A Jena Six protestor climbs in a tree as he holds a sign at Thursday’s rally. (Bryson Pope/Echo Staff Photographer)

“NCCU Supports Jena Six” read the black T-shirts of 44 N. C. Central University students and six faculty at Thursday’s Jena Six rally.

They boarded the Eagle One bus last Wednesday for a 16-hour voyage to join protestors from around the nation in Jena, La., a town of just under 3,100. Crowds were estimated at 20,000 to 50,000.

When NCCU mass communication senior Marquita McAlpine heard about the excessive charges levied against six black high school students in Jena, she knew she had to do something.

“I didn’t know how I wanted to go about the situation; I just knew I wanted to help,” McAlpine said.

NCCU students joined protestors and marched from the Ward 10 Recreation Park to the LaSalle Parish Courthouse to rally for the release of Mychal Bell, the last of the Jena Six to remain in jail.

Bell, 17, has been in jail for nine months, ever since he and five other black males were arrested after a schoolyard fight last year.

The fight was the climax of a chain of racial tensions at Jena High School that began in August 2006.

Tensions flared after black students sat under what many students called the “whites-only tree” at the school.

About 60,000 protesters gathered Thursday in support of the Jena Six in Jena, La. (Photo: Bryson Pope/Echo Staff Photographer)

The next day, three white male students hung two nooses from the tree, leading to the Dec. 4 fight between a white student and six black male students — collectively named the Jena Six.

The Six were initially charged with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy, a charge that many across the nation thought excessive.

The Louisiana Third Court of Appeals overturned Bell’s conviction and sent the case to juvenile court.

At the rally, protesters held signs that said “Free the Jena Six” while wearing black shirts that carried similar messages, as attendees were asked to wear black for the day.

“It just broke my heart to see how those six boys were treated over a school yard fight,” said McAlpine.

McAlpine, 23, said Chimi Boyd, director of the NCCU’s women’s center, Frances Graham, interim vice chancellor of student affairs, and Carlton Wilson, history department chair, all helped her get funding for the trip.

McAlpine has started a defense fund that will assist with attorney costs for the Jena Six.

NCCU Senior Marquita McAlpine speaks with an NBC 17 News reporter at Thursday’s Jena Six rally. (Photo: Bryson Pope/Echo Staff Photographer)

While the majority of the protesters were black, the rally attracted some protesters of other races and ethnicities.

Allison Davis said being one of few whites at the rally was never an issue for her because she said she feels justice has no color.

“I’m here to learn,” said the Texas Women’s University graduate student. “I like to learn about issues from people.”

Davis, 25, said she and nine other students from TWU traveled in two vans to attend the protest.

Davis said that race can’t be ignored in a situation such as the Jena Six incident.

“I can’t understand why something like this could happen,” Davis said.

A judge ruled against releasing Bell on Friday.

The hearing was the first since the case was turned to juvenile court.