Students to protest Jackson's speech
Students who want to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day without attending the Rev. Jesse Jackson's speech will have another option.
The Young Americans for Freedom will host a peaceful rally and ceremony outside the Student Activity Center at ?6 p.m. on Tuesday.
"I think it's absolutely important to honor Dr. King, his legacy and his contributions, but bringing in a guy who has made anti-American comments is not the way to do it," said YAF president and Topinabee sophomore Dennis Lennox II.
Jackson will speak at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Rose Arena.
The YAF celebration will be an assembly of students with American flags, signs with King quotes and other American memorabilia, Lennox said.
"Mr. Jackson champions racial divide," Lennox said. "The African-American community is very diverse, politically and philosophically."
Lennox said Jackson's liberal politics put him at odds with the YAF and other conservative-leaning students.
"There's no alternative for right-of-center students," Lennox said. "It seems to me that the university should offer two speakers, one on each side."
Computer center manager and College Republicans adviser Dale Jarman said he has no objections to Jackson's visit to campus.
"He's a good speaker," he said. "He's welcome to express his opinions, but I don't necessarily agree with him."
The cost to have Jackson speak on campus is about $20,000.
Numerous student organizations will contribute funds to bring Jackson to campus.
Past MLK Day speakers have included the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Bernice King.
Carly Wilson said she thinks Jackson is a good choice for an MLK Day speaker.
"I think he knows a lot about the Civil Rights Movement and has worked with Dr. King," the Detroit freshman said. "I think he will convey a good message to our students."
Jackson was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1968, according to the online MSN Encarta encyclopedia.
He has been active in the Civil Rights Movement since his time at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Jackson has worked with organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Operation Breadbasket project in Chicago and the PUSH-EXCEL program.
He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984, but lost to Walter Mondale.
Jackson created tension between himself and other leaders after making an offensive comment about Jews. He also has added to his controversy by having ties with Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam.
"He (Jackson) doesn't want racial equality," Lennox said. "Without racial divide, he doesn't have a soapbox to stand on."
bkieda@cm-life.com
