Rev. Jesse Jackson, known for his past verbal miscues, was fighting back after a South Carolina newspaper quoted him as criticizing Democratic hopeful Sen. Barack Obama for a lukewarm reaction to the arrest of six black juveniles involved in a racial fight in Louisiana.
The civil rights leader and past presidential candidate has endorsed the African-American Obama for the 2008 Democratic nomination.
Jackson was quoted by The State newspaper in South Carolina on Wednesday in an interview as saying Obama was “acting like he’s white” in his response to the situation in Louisiana. Jackson later told the newspaper he did not recall making such a statement.
A racial fight broke out at a high school in the rural Louisiana town of Jena last December, after nooses were hung from a tree (harking back to lynchings) where white students typically gathered and black students had sought school permission to do so as well.
Three white students were suspended by the school for the incident and after a brawl six black students were charged with second-degree attempted murder by a local prosecutor for the fight.
Obama issued his own press release on Sept. 13 calling the hanging of nooses “a tragedy” and said that it “shows we still have a lot of work to do as a nation to heal our racial tensions.” His campaign declined to comment on Jackson’s remark.
Jackson on Wednesday reiterated his support for Obama and touting his qualifications for the White House in a statement provided by the Obama campaign.
“I commend Sen. Obama for speaking out and demanding fairness on this defining issue,” he said. “Any attempt to dilute my support for Sen. Obama will not succeed.”
– Photo credit: John Gress; Obama and Jackson meet during January breakfast in Chicago.
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4 comments so far
Obama response was appropriate. Jessie should not have said anything about Obama’s response. The real important part about the Jena 6 issue is that fairness still does not exist. All of those who were fighting should be treated the same way. Charges should be brought against all of them or none of them.
- Posted by EthelSadly, every time Jackson opens his mouth, he only fuels more racial tension. He fights fire with fire when he should be using water.
- Posted by JusticeI do believe that it is time for the Reverend Jackson to step down from making political statements. He is starting to do more harm than good.
- Posted by eloise lanumWhile Jesse Jackson’s remarks were obviously intended as an attack on Obama’s perceived “blackness,” he seems to forget that Obama is, in fact one-half white.
- Posted by Guy B. Jones