Posted on 01/16/2005 5:45:26 PM PST by NormsRevenge
JONESBORO, Ga. (AP) - War, poverty, violence and social injustice are dampening Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy as the nation prepares to celebrate the slain civil rights leader's birthday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson told a church gathering Sunday.
In a passionate speech at Dixon Grove Baptist Church in Jonesboro, south of King's native Atlanta, Jackson assailed the war in Iraq and insisted the gap between rich and poor in America is widening despite King's message of peace and equality.
"It's easy to admire Dr. King," Jackson told the 650 people at the church. "It's a challenge to follow him."
Jackson, who was standing beneath the motel balcony where King was fatally shot in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968, suggested a good birthday present to King would be for Americans to strive more for financial and social equality.
"You can be out of slavery and out of segregation and have the right to vote and starve to death without access to capital and industry," Jackson said.
He added, "You got the birthday. But do you have the legacy? The legacy is to fight for jobs, justice, health care, education and end to war."
Jackson, founder and president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, said the war in Iraq is a quagmire of death and destruction with no end in sight.
"We call the home team the insurgents and we're the home team," Jackson said sarcastically. "Dr. King, what are we doing?"
More events commemorating the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday were scheduled for Monday, when the nation celebrates King's birthday.
Thousands are expected to gather in downtown Atlanta for the 19th annual march and rally honoring King in his hometown. The march will follow a morning commemorative service, attended by the King family and other dignitaries, at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King preached until his death.
Meanwhile, volunteers with Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless will be busy serving thousands at Turner Field for its annual King Day dinner.
Parades marking the holiday are planned around the state, including Savannah, Moultrie, Tifton, Bainbridge, Gainesville and McDonough.
In Cobb County, residents will gather in Marietta for a King Day march. Fayetteville also is holding its inaugural King Day march this year, after city officials decided for the first time to shut down government offices to commemorate the holiday.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks during the 20th annual Clayton County ecumenical service in celebration of the national holiday observance of Martin Luther King Day, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005, at the Dixon Grove Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Ga.
Jesse Jackson - socialist.
MLK is no doubt rolling over in his grave. The fact that his own family has chosen to pimp his legacy out to the likes of Jesse Jackson is about as scummy and low life as a family can get. His widow and son have done a horrible job of keeping the true meaning of his message alive. Instead they've opted for "show me the money". Their claim to fame is poverty pimping. Some legacy....
/john
Strange how Jessie Jackson, being a self-proclaimed Christian minister, never uses the same language to ask people to follow Jesus Christ.
/john
Jesse Jackson is a disgusting human being---equality, he says? I don't see him sharing his wealth---does he live in a $70,000 tract home in the suburbs somewhere?
Betcha his house is 3-4 times as big and more expensive than mine---
Je$$e and the rest of the Democrat party sap King's legacy. And I never fail to be offended when Je$$e does his tacky, extremely bad King impression.
And the mother of his "love child" doesn't live in any one room shack, either.
But, who suckered King out to his death? Was it Jesse?
Niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Speak Out Against Abortion at Supreme Court
No doubt she would not feel welcomed by this group.
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., second from right, stands with other civil rights leaders on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn. in this April 3, 1968 file photo, a day before he was assassinated at approximately the same place. From left are Hosea Williams, Jesse Jackson, King, and Ralph Abernathy. (AP Photo)
No, his mistress does.
He just pays for it.
A most perfect statement given in reference to MLK day. At least Jesse isn't politically self minded. /s
"War, poverty, violence and social injustice are dampening Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy as the nation prepares to celebrate the slain civil rights leader's birthday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson told a church gathering Sunday."
No, but it sure puts a dent in Jesse's extortion efforts!
Jesse Jackson - socialist. >>
so was MLK
Can we all say extortionist, I'm so glad people are seeing Jackson for what he is, still have a way to go to take this race baiter down.
This discussion relating race to financial inequality has as much relevance in modern day American society as a discussion of flat earth theory. Unless Jesse Jackson changes his ways, he will be remembered as a stuck 45 record needle.
Muleteam1
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