Paul Hughes/The Hoya The Rev. Jesse Jackson denounced President George W. Bush’s administration and advocated peace in foreign affairs during a speech held Monday in Gaston Hall. Jackson’s speech was sponsored by the GU L
Civil rights leader and political activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson addressed a standing-room only crowd of Georgetown students onday evening in Gaston Hall. He criticized many of President George W. Bush’s administration’s policies and discussed his motives for organizing. The March for Justice, which he will lead, is scheduled for this Friday in Washington, D.C.
As founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, a group representing the interests of social activist organizations, Jackson expressed his organization’s opposition to what he sees as a lack of dialogue between the Bush administration and social activist organizations. “Mr. Bush has not met with organized labor leaders, the NAACP, the National Organization of Women and others . he seeks to close the door,” he said, adding that by not meeting with such groups, the administration has neglected the concerns of many Americans.
Much of Jackson’s speech was dedicated to voicing his opposition to military action against Iraq. He cited public anxiety in light of the war on terrorism as the motivation for the potential military action. “We are moving dangerously close to a war that is unnecessary,” Jackson said. “We need to go forward by hope, not backward by fear.”
Jackson said that a preemptive strike on Iraq would only further destabilize the Middle East. He stated that military action against Iraq would also break the rules of the United Nations charter and international law. Jackson questioned how the United States could find the moral authority to stop other conflicts throughout the world if it was not willing to adhere to international opinions and rules.
“We should be building bridges instead of dropping bombs,” he said. “We must seek to lead the world, not to rule it . we must learn to live together as brothers and sisters and not die as fools.”
Though a significant part of the speech centered on criticizing Bush’s `closed door policy’ and potential military action against Iraq, Jackson also touched on a wide range of other issues currently facing the nation. He commented on the controversial results of the 2000 U.S. presidential election, calling it a “global embarrassment to democracy.” Jackson said that the number of votes discounted because of unjust practices disturbed him and highlighted the need for reform to prevent such confusion in the future.
Additionally, Jackson criticized the Bush administration’s return to deficit spending and the President’s stance on the recent corporate scandals. He opposed Bush’s proposal for a corporate tax rebate system that Jackson said would potentially save companies like Enron and WorldCom millions of dollars. “These plans do not leave us with a sense of economic justice,” he said.
Jackson also expressed his concerns about the public schools system. He said that he does not support a voucher system because it would only help a small minority of students in struggling school systems. “We must leave no child behind,” he said.
Toward the conclusion of his speech, Jackson urged Georgetown students to unite behind his call for peace and justice. “You are our right now,” Jackson said, stressing the power of peaceful protests. “Bush has the platform, but we have the power to determine the course of our nation .we must rally to change America for the better.”
The March for Justice, organized by Jackson’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition to draw attention to the voices of social interest and minority groups, is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13. It will begin by Freedom Plaza and end at the Department of Justice.
The Georgetown University Lecture Fund sponsored Jackson’s speech.