“Now what?” is a great question to ask, because a lot of momentum exists. But to me, your cynicism as to whether a movement built focused on one of these iconic cases ignores civil rights history, as social causes from Rosa Parks in the bus to the movement around the “Tulia” defendants in Texas have shown.

All the questions you’re asking need to be asked, but it’s a strategic and moral mistake, IMO, to insist there’s an either-or aspect to caring about Jena and caring about what happens in your hometown. Sure, some people are shallow, or scared, and won’t make the leap you’d like them to. But everyone at that rally was on their own journey, and many will play more productive roles in their own hometowns in the future because of things they learned and people who inspired them during the Jena campaign.