Posted on 06/30/2004 4:02:08 AM PDT by kattracks
Chicago (CNSNews.com) - As Democrat John F. Kerry addressed Jesse Jackson's 33rd annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Conference on Tuesday, about 100 African-American religious and community leaders protested Jackson for being the black community's "worst nightmare."
"Jesse is an immoral person. He has a history of being on the wrong side of history," said Pastor Anthony Williams of Chicago's St. Stephens Lutheran Church.
"The media -- the American media -- has invented our worst nightmare in the black community. He has never done anything beneficial for our people," Williams told CNSNews.com.
"We are letting the Democratic Party know -- from a state, county and federal level -- that the black vote is not for sale. I will vote for Mickey Mouse before I vote for John Kerry," Williams added.
The protestors chanted and carried signs that read "Jesse does not speak for black people" and "America's number-one pimp selling the black vote."
Williams does not believe that black voters' overwhelming support for the Democratic Party has proven beneficial to minorities.
"The African American community has historically got nothing (from supporting the Democratic Party) -- a precious few has gotten something like these old civil rights organizations and people like Jesse," Williams said.
"We have been taken for granted because of people like Jesse. His day is over with," he added.
Another protestor, Harold Davis objected to what he perceived as Jackson's character defects.
"We know that his history speaks that he is a liar, he is a thief, he's a charlatan, he is a pimp. He is all the things that the black community should now say to him it's time for you to stop -- it's time for you to stop misleading and misguiding folks," said Harold Davis, a member of the Chicago chapter of the Amer-I-Can Program, a California-based self-esteem-building organization that operates in inner cites and prisons. The group was founded in 1988 by NFL Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown.
The protestors said Jackson does not represent black America.
"We want the Democratic Party to know that we will no longer be taken for granted, we will no longer just give our vote to them. We will no longer allow Jesse to pigeonhole the black community into a vote for them," Davis said.
Bishop Lance Davis, of the New Zion Christian Fellowship Church in Dalton, Ill., questioned what Jackson and his various organizations do with their money, much of which comes from major U.S. corporations.
"We were wondering where the money is going. We don't see it in Chicago. Who is being helped?" Davis commented to CNSNews.com.
Answering his own question, Davis said, "We have no clue. The only thing we know is [Rainbow/PUSH] salaries and their trips around the world. All we know is that our children are not receiving a dime," Davis said. Davis also heads the community group Voices of Morality.
Kimberly Corley, of Section 16 Ward Englewood Task Force, said Jackson "is not over there (in the inner city) helping us. He is not speaking for us."
Another protestor, Annie Taylor, noted the absence of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s widow Coretta Scott King as proof that Jackson is not the heir to King's leadership.
"If Jesse was for us, for the blacks, if he stood for anything that Martin Luther King represented, where is Coretta [Scott king]? Where is Coretta Scott? She would be on the forefront; she would be with him, right by his side. That's my question -- where is Coretta?" Taylor asked.
'Hush money'
The protestors also accused Jackson of selling out to Daimler Chrysler Corporation in exchange for a donation.
The auto giant is the target of a lawsuit alleging that black buyers were subjected to racial slurs and discrimination. Daimler Chrysler helped underwrite the cost of the 2004 Rainbow/PUSH Coalition conference. Jackson's program lists Daimler Chrysler as an "Ebony Sponsor."
"It is appalling that Jesse continues to take money from the organization -- from Daimler Chrysler -- and it is intolerable for him to not even comment on the fact they referred to him and others that look like him as niggers and jigaboos in the year 2004," Williams said.
Lance Davis said Jackson should not accept any money from Daimler Chrysler until the controversy has been resolved.
"A vanguard organization in the African-American community should not receive money from a corporation that obviously does not value the African-American dollar," Davis said. "We believe that that it's hush money," Davis added.
Harold Davis agreed. "Rather than joining with the people fighting [Daimler Chrysler], Jesse went into Chrysler and said 'Give me the money and I will stay out of it.' So they actually paid Jackson to stay out of it," Davis asserted.
"He has not opened his mouth about Daimler Chrysler," he added.
Jackson responds
Jackson, in an interview with CNSNews.com following the protests, denied the allegations that he was essentially paid off by Daimler Chrysler to keep quiet.
"As for Daimler Chrysler, we challenge corporations. There are workers at Daimler Chrysler who are here who want the organization represented. I don't know any corporations who records are pure; we challenge all of them and our government," Jackson said.
Jackson also scoffed at the protestors' openness to the GOP.
"The Republican Party has basically written off workers and black people and Latino people. They have not had one meeting with organized labor, [NAACP] Leadership Conference in three years -- neither Bush nor [Attorney General John] Ashcroft," Jackson said.
But protestor Williams was not persuaded that blacks have no other option except to vote for the Democratic Party.
I say, 'Guess what? We can go fishing on Election Day, and let's see what is going to happen to Mr. Kerry then," Williams said. "I will just encourage my congregation of 3000 people to go fishing."
Harold Davis said he was willing to give Bush and the GOP a chance to compete for his vote.
"Let's see what the Republican Party has to say about pulling yourself up by your own boot straps. Let's give them the opportunity to come to the talk," Davis said.
Jackson compared to Jesus Christ
Clarence Thompson, a Jackson supporter and a member of Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, clashed with anti-Jackson protestors on the sidewalk.
"I think [the anti-Jackson protestors] are stupid, I think they are stone stupid. Just a bunch of idiots that should be at home up in their beds," Thompson told CNSNews.com.
"The Rev. Jackson has not been paid off by nobody," Thompson said. He then compared Jackson to Jesus Christ.
"Any time you try to do what is right, somebody will try to find some fault and accuse you of wrong. They did that to Jesus Christ, so why should they stop now? They did that to Jesus Christ, they accused him, they crucified him like they are trying to do to Jesse Jackson," Thompson said.
They are trying to crucify Jesse Jackson, and for what? Because he is trying to do the right thing," he added.
E-mail a news tip to Marc Morano.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
Keep up the great work...MUD
>Harold Davis said he was willing to give Bush and the GOP
>a chance to compete for his vote.
>"Let's see what the Republican Party has to say about
>pulling yourself up by your own boot straps. Let's give
>them the opportunity to come to the talk," Davis said.
Rove and Mehlman are missing a big opportunity if they do not take up this offer. There may be an element of calculation here, but that's the nature of politics. If blacks are willing to put their votes in play, they can only benefit.
I think Don King is a W supporter.
WOW!!! Definite bump for later!
I am really upset that I missed you on H&C. Next time you're going to be on TV, please ping me (and others).
A comment above said you need to learn to butt in. I didn't see the show, as I said, but I don't necessarily agree with that. I HATE those screaming meemies who are always doing that. As long as you maintain dignity, your message will be much more effective in the long run. But you do have to provide "interest" ... LOL ... otherwise, you won't be invited back. I have confidence you know the difference.
May the REAL "black voice" echo through this nation!
It's a start. But I won't be encouraged until Blacks start talking about what politicians will do for them as Americans. Terrorism and the economy affect all Americans. Terrorists don't just blow up whites.
Education should be a special concern to them. JJ wants that to mean that even illiterate Blacks should get admitted to prestigious universities; the GOP thinks that Blacks should not be allowed to remain illiterate. Surely that subject is at least worthy of discussion in the Black community.
But, no, it's JJ's way only.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.