JENA, Louisiana (CNN) -- Thousands of protesters clogged the tiny town of Jena, Louisiana, Thursday to show their indignation over what they consider unjust, unequal punishments meted out in two racially charged incidents.



Officers lead Al Sharpton, center, through Jena, Louisiana, during Thursday's protest.



They swarmed over the grounds of Jena High School, where nooses were hung from a tree in early August 2006, about three months before six black teens known as the "Jena 6" were accused of beating a white classmate.



While the tension was palpable, news broke Thursday afternoon that the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal ordered a hearing within 72 hours to determine if the only one of the six still behind bars can be released.



The order has "got to be good," Mychal Bell's attorney, Bob Noel, told CNN. "It means we have a day in court. Any day in court is going to be a good day."



Earlier, there was an aura of a pilgrimage at the site where the controversial tree once stood before school administrators had it removed.



Many people touched the ground and some retrieved a lump of dirt, said CNN's Eric Marrapodi. He said the part of the town he was in was ill-prepared for the crowds -- no water or toilets were available.



In the background, groups shouted "Black power" and "No justice, no peace."



The estimated 15000 to 20,000 demonstrators shut down the town of 3,000 in central Louisiana. Many residents left for the day, and government agencies, businesses and schools were closed.



Sgt. Tim Ledet of the Louisiana State Police said protesters in buses were still bringing people to town at midday because of the gridlock, but many protesters got off and walked into town on foot.



"There is just no room to maneuver in this small town," he said.



Jena resident Terry Adams disagreed with any accusations that there might be a black-white divide in the area.



"We are not a racial town. We get along with each other, we get along fine. This is something that got out of proportion. It really has."



Jena's racial tensions were aggravated in August 2006, when three white teens hung the nooses the day after a group of black students received permission from school administrators to sit under the tree -- a place where white students normally congregated.



The guilty students were briefly suspended from classes, despite the principal's recommendation they be expelled, according to Donald Washington, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.



A member of the LaSalle Parish School Board -- which had a role in supporting suspension instead of expulsion -- insisted the board is not prejudiced.



The panel felt it took the appropriate action, Jonny Fryar said.



"I talked to one of the parents, who called me and said their son thought it was a prank and naive to the fact of what it meant and he was sorry," he said.



"I hate to see people label us as something we are not. Because we have black students and white students playing football together. They shake hands, get along. This is an unfortunate incident. We hope that the community can heal."



Although Washington acknowledged the FBI and other investigators thought the noose incident bore the markings of a hate crime, a decision was made not to press federal charges because the case didn't meet federal criteria. The students were under 18 and had no prior records, and no group such as a Ku Klux Klan was found to be behind their actions.



On December 4, about three months after the nooses were discovered, six teens, dubbed the Jena 6, were accused of beating classmate Justin Barker. The six -- Mychal Bell, Robert Bailey Jr., Carwin Jones, Bryant Purvis, Theo Shaw and Jesse Ray Beard -- were originally charged with attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy, according to LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters.



Bell, the only one of the six who remains in jail, was to be sentenced Thursday after convictions for aggravated
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question: On what did the court of appeal order hearing withing 72 hours?, answer: to determine if the only one of the six still behind bars can be released. | question: where did the crowds touch ground?, answer: Jena High School, | question: What amount of protesters do the police estimate?, answer: 15000 to 20,000 | question: what is jena 6, answer: six black teens | question: What is the name of the group charged with beating a white classmate?, answer: "Jena 6" | question: what is happening in jena, answer: Thousands of protesters clogged the tiny town of | question: what is the estimate count of protestors by police?, answer: 15000 to 20,000 | question: Who orders hearing within 72 hours on teen's fate?, answer: 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal | question: where is jena?, answer: Louisiana,