Rev. Jackson And Local Ministers Place Continued Focus On Gun Violence
Chicago - Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., founder president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition; Father Michael Pfleger, The Faith Community of Saint Sabina; Dr. Carlton Pearson, Christ Universal Temple; Bishop William Ellis, Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Morgan Park; Rev. Steve Jones, Praise Tabernacle Deliverance Center; Rev. Stephen Thurston, New Covenant Ministry Baptist Church; Rev. Walter "Slim" Coleman, Adalberto United Methodist Church; Bishop Jerry Jones, Apostolic Assembly of the Lord Jesus Christ; Dr. Jo Ann Long, New Covenant Life Church We need to revive the ban on assault weapons, which was a campaign promise made by President Obama," Rev. Jackson said. "We need targeted jobs and job training in the areas of high unemployment. We need to open up the unions to trade-skill training to help the unemployed get jobs in the trade and construction industry. And we need to create adult supervised recreation centers dealing with athletics, the arts and music." The Rainbow PUSH Coalition has continued to call for the passage of gun legislation pending in Springfield and Washington that could immediately make America's streets safer. “If we can stop the violence in Chicago, we can change the rest of the world,” he said. “We must end war at home, and stop weapons of mass destruction." Last Saturday the Rainbow Excel Basketball League (R.E.B.L.) kicked off their season. The league is comprised of over 200 young men from around the city and from various Chicago Public Schools. R.E.B.L. is an initiative of PUSH for Excellence which provides young African American boys with academic encouragement and mentoring in addition to competitive basketball. The program offers constructive activity and camaraderie aimed at steering young men away from gun violence. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition is a progressive organization protecting, defending and expanding civil rights to improve economic and educational opportunity. The organization is headquartered at 930 E. 50th St. in Chicago. For more information about the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, please visit www.rainbowpush.org or call (773) 373-3366
With gun violence plaguing the city of Chicago and city officials debating the issue of calling on the National Guard to rectify the problem, Rev. Jackson and local ministers will convene family members, friends and community leaders at Cole Park Wednesday afternoon in search of answers, comfort and solutions.
