Jesse Jackson

Jesse Jackson in 1983.

Reverend Jesse Jackson is a Democratic African-American political activist, a prominent spokesman for decades in espousing liberal views. Jackson ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 1984 and again, with stronger support, in 1988. At times it has been suggested that Jackson was once pro-life before he became a leading Democrat and endorsed pro-abortion views; in 2005 Jackson did publicly oppose the denial of food and water that caused the death of the disabled Terri Schiavo.

Jesse Jackson was part of Martin Luther King's circle, although the closeness of these ties is debated. His perceived self-promotion with Dr. King's death led to an alienation from the King family.

In recent years Jackson's position as a spokesman for Democratic African Americans has been shared, or even eclipsed, by Al Sharpton and Barack Obama.

In 2021, Jackson was arrested for leading an insurrection at the United States Capitol building along with 200 other insurrectionists.[1]

## Contents

* 1 Protests
* 2 Rev. Jim Jones
* 3 Offensive or Controversial Remarks
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## Protests[edit]

Jesse Jackson was arrested by Decatur, Illinois in December 1999 and charged with criminal trespass and contributing to the delinquency of a minor [2] in connection with a demonstration at a local high school.

In June 2007, Jackson was again arrested outside a gun shop. Jackson was allegedly protesting the killing of a 16-year-old honor student who was the unintended victim of gang violence.[3]

## Rev. Jim Jones[edit]

Jesse Jackson, who had met with fellow progressive the Rev. Jim Jones on several occasions,[4] refused to disparage Jones, stating that he still considered Jones to be a man that "worked for the people." Jackson also stated "I would hope that all of the good he did will not be discounted because of this tremendous tragedy." Jackson praised Mayor George Moscone for "not going on a diatribe against the Peoples Temple" and "blowing the whole thing out of proportion."

## Offensive or Controversial Remarks[edit]

Jesse Jackson asks for Gov. George Wallace's support in his presidential bid. The two had been snubbed by the Democratic party establishment, Wallace in 1968 and Jackson in 1988.

According to Washington Post reporter Milton Coleman, Jackson remarked about "the preoccupation of some with Israel." Coleman quotes Jackson as saying,

“  |  That's all Hymie wants to talk about, is Israel; every time you go to Hymietown, that's all they want to talk about.[5] |  ”

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The American Journalism Review reported Jackson issued a non-denial-denial.[6]

In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks Rev. Jackson was virtually alone in opposing retaliation on terrorists and the regimes that harbored them. Speaking in a meeting at Operation PUSH headquarters in Chicago four days after the attacks, Jackson told listeners rather than deploy troops the U.S. should,

“  |  launch the fight for the redistribution of resources. One hundred million people will have AIDS in five years. We should use our strength for that.[7] |  ”

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He was prominent in the Michael Richards and Don Imus cases.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jesse-jackson-arrested-dc-protest
2. ↑ Jesse Jackson Exposed, A Judicial Watch Special Report. Retrieved from judicialwatch.org 06/04/07.
3. ↑ Rev. Jesse Jackson Arrested at Gun Shop Protest, June 24, 2007.
4. ↑ "Jones 'Concern For The Despaired' Cited", Los Angeles Times, November 21, 1978.
5. ↑ Jesse and the Jews, Michael W. Hirschorn, The Harvard Crimson, March 05, 1984.
6. ↑ "Hymietown" Revisited, Gigi Anders, American Journalism Review, May 1999.
7. ↑ A Tale of Two Preachers - Louis Farrakhan and Jesse Jackson, by Kenneth R. Timmerman, Insight on the News, Oct 15, 2001.

## External links[edit]

* Jesse Jackson's ties to terrorists exposed, By Paul Sperry, WolrdNetDaily.com, March 18, 2002.