Rev. Jesse Jackson Leads Ferguson Protest Outside Rainbow Push HQ
CHICAGO (CBS) --The regular Saturday meeting of the Rainbow-Push Coalition ended with members walking into the street outside the civil right's organizations south side headquarters today and lying down in the street.
WBBM's Mike Krauser reports about 50 people were led by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, chanting, singing and calling on the U.S. Justice Department to conduct a civil rights investigation into the shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.
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"The civil rights of Michael Brown was violated," Jackson said, "and it's taking place around the country. It's not just Michael Brown. It is a pattern."
Police attempted to keep the street open but after a few words with Jackson, they blocked Drexel Street to traffic as the group sang, "We Shall Not Be Moved."
From a seated position in the street, Jackson called on the Justice Department to conduct a civil rights investigation, saying the grand jury was corrupted.
"I would hope that our government would act and act now. I would hate to think what would happen if you had black police maliciously killing white children in this way. The fact is no one should kill anyone. We want to stop the violence and choose a more civilized relationship."
Jackson made is clear he thinks the grand jury got it wrong.
"The jury set Emmett Till's killers free. The jury set Medgar Evers' killers free. The jury set those who beat Rodney King free. Corrupted juries have corrupted results. We want a fair jury process. We would hope that the federal government would act now."
Jackson was joined by Rev. Jamal Bryant, of Baltimore, who called on people to continue protesting.
"We started yesterday with a monumental move with Blackout Friday. Malls were closed. Sales were lackadaisical. It was not a one day effort."
Bryant said there ought to be a new mantra.
Instead of "hands up, don't shoot," he said, it should be "pants up don't loot."
