Posted on 09/16/2003 1:12:07 PM PDT by samanella
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The Rev. Jesse Jackson called Monday for a new, South-centered civil rights movement and said he wants to organize South Carolina voters on behalf of a U.S. Senate candidate. Speaking at Furman University, Jackson said the South has the most jailed people, vulnerable workers and toxic waste dumps in the nation.
"We need to have a new civil rights struggle," he said.
Jackson, a former Democratic presidential candidate, said in an interview with The Greenville News that he wants to build support for a U.S. Senate contender, but he declined to say which one. The move would be coupled with a "massive" drive to register voters and focus on the rights of workers, he said.
In the interview, Jackson also said he will keep pushing the Greenville County Council to establish a paid holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
Jackson led the King holiday charge at council meetings in the beginning of the year. But he's stopped attending since the council decided to let county workers vote on which days they take off.
"At the appropriate time, you'll see us at the county's meetings," Jackson said. "I hope we can spend more of our time organizing around the state to determine the next U.S. senator."
About 170 students and Greenville leaders turned out for Jackson's speech on the 40th anniversary of a Birmingham, Ala., church bombing that claimed the lives of four black girls.
"He's very charismatic," Furman junior Christopher Payne said. "It's easy to get inspired by him."
Jackson said he probably would have attended Furman if had been allowed to apply. But the university was segregated at the time, and he went to the University of Illinois instead.
Jackson grew up on University Ridge, which was near Furman's campus when it was in downtown Greenville.
He said much work needs to be done to close the breach between the races. Blacks are accepted as entertainers and athletes, he said, but have been shut out of corporations.
"We don't want a break," Jackson said. "We want an even playing field."
He told the Furman crowd that King brought down the "cotton curtain," making it possible for the Olympics to come to Atlanta and international companies to settle in the South.
"This is the legacy of Martin Luther King, not Strom Thurmond," he said.
Jackson declined to endorse a presidential candidate or handicap the race when asked by a student. He mentioned his interest in supporting a Senate candidate in an interview before his speech.
U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, D-S.C., announced last month he will not run again.
Two Democrats have expressed an interest in the job: state Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum and Columbia Mayor Bob Coble.
Republicans contenders are U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of Greenville, former Attorney General Charlie Condon of Sullivan's Island, Charleston developer Thomas Ravenel and Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride.
Code for: "My bank accounts are drying up from child support payments. I need a new influx of cash."
I am speechless.
Well, I'd have to agree. Say..um....is a sever gag reflex considered 'inspired'?
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