Rev. Jesse Jackson calls Florida ‘Selma of our time’; Gov. Rick Scott calls for apology


Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday accused Rev. Jesse Jackson of insulting Floridians with a series of reckless and divisive statements about the state and its “stand your ground” self-defense law.

While visiting the state Capitol Tuesday, Jackson talked about efforts to repeal the law and used the phrase “Selma of our time” — a reference to civil rights marches in Alabama that helped prompt change in the 1960s.

In a July 18 exchange on CNN, Jackson talked about an economic boycott to “isolate Florida as a kind of apartheid state given this whole stand your ground laws.”

Scott denounced both comments and demanded an apology, saying the longtime civil rights leader’s words “insult Floridians and divide our state at a time when we are striving for unity and healing.”

Other top Republicans also picked up on the comments, including House Speaker Will Weatherford and newly elected Rep. Mike Hill, the only African-American GOP lawmaker in Tallahassee. Hill called Jackson’s words a “disgrace.”

But Jackson, 71, said he would not apologize. “These guys are looking for a diversion from the horrendous laws that are separating people,” he said. “I will not respond in kind.”

The back-and-forth Wednesday, which spiraled on social media, further underscores the tension that remains in the state since George Zimmerman was acquitted of the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. A group of demonstrators, who believe the stand your ground law aided Zimmerman’s defense, have been camping outside Scott’s office hoping that the law will be repealed.

Jackson briefly joined that group, the Dream Defenders, to help their cause. That much is clear.

But his comments Tuesday about the civil rights era — and their meaning — are more difficult to decipher. While Jackson mentioned Selma, he did it in an indirect way.

He spoke about how his organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and others were going to recruit adults, ministers and students to come to Tallahassee and support the Dream Defenders. In Jackson’s telling, the cause was not limited to Florida or stand your ground laws, but to a myriad of issues that also included prison labor, credit card and student loan debt, and the cut in student loans.

“This is the Selma of our time, this is the transformative moment for this time,” Jackson said. “I think about students this past summer couldn’t get summer Pell Grants and were wiped out by the thousands. Students have reasons to fight back. Parent plus loans, students being kicked out of school, good minds no money. Fight back. Student loan debt, credit card debt we must fight back.”

Jackson later talked about Alabama Gov. George Wallace, who in 1963 famously stood in the door of Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama to block the entry of two black students. Wallace later apologized to black leaders.

“Rosa Parks didn’t change her mind,” he said. “The bus company didn’t change their mind, but they eventually did. Wallace said we couldn’t go to the University of Alabama. He had to change his mind.”

Republicans took the comment as a comparison to Scott, who has refused to call a special session to overturn the 2005 stand your ground law.

But Jackson said it was meant to illustrate the role governors have in making change.

Hill, who recently became the first black Republican legislator since Reconstruction when he won a House seat in June, called Jackson’s comments ridiculous.

“When Jackson uses language that describes us as an apartheid state and compares our governor to one of history’s most notorious bigots, he is either hopelessly out of touch or purposefully dishonest,” Hill said in a statement.

Jackson spent the night with the Dream Defenders Tuesday, sharing stories with the group and offering encouragement. He left early Wednesday.

“He was telling different stories and correlating what’s going on right now in the movement that we’re creating with movements and moments that he’s been part of,” said Steve Parjett, one of the demonstrators staying in the Capitol. “He’s committed to continuing to help us and continuing to provide support.”

The group’s executive director, Phillip Agnew, said Scott should address his concerns with the Dream Defenders instead.

“It’s odd he’s taken issue with Jackson,” Agnew said. “Meanwhile, we’re sitting in his office and he won’t address us or the issues that we raise.”

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/31/3533728/rev-jesse-jackson-calls-florida.html 





The sad fact that he stood shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Martin Luther King and went through the entire civil rights fight with him in his inner circle...says volumes for the way he conduts himself now. H'e s only a race baiter for profit.

How much is he offering for Zimmerman's head..?? 😕

I remember how Jackson and the other skirt chaser, Andrew Young, were neck to neck in beaver pelts. Btw, MLK was a renowned squirrel hunter hisself.
Funny how Swaggart & Baker had to resign (and worse) for doing less but "Reverend" Jesse continues to thrive except for the heartbreak from his bath house frequenting, corrupt son.

Let him go, DMV. If the corporations want to pay him graft... Some day he'll have to account for his lies & greed.
Right now we've got bigger panfish to fry. Over 9 million jobs lost so far under the auspices of his brotha Prez.

I never could figure out why African-Americans elected Jesse Jackson as their leader. I would think they could find a better candidate.

I bet Kanye would do it.... 😟

They respect rhyming charisma with the occasionally mispronounced (or inappropriate) 50 cent word.

...or Barack.

The former information technology director for Florida State Attorney Angela Corey is reportedly suing for wrongful termination.

Jacksonville.com reports that Ben Kruidbos sued Corey’s office Thursday, claiming he was illegally fired in June following his testimony that prosecutors did not submit all information to George Zimmerman’s defense team in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26, 2012.

Kruidbos is seeking at least $5 million in damages and his job back.

Kruidbos, according to the lawsuit, could not be fired for testifying in a judicial proceeding in response to a subpoena. It also claims that the firing was retaliation for his testimony in the Zimmerman case.

“It’s important to understand that we’re not just saying my client was wrongfully terminated,” attorney Wesley White said. “We’re also saying that the state attorney broke the law.”

Florida law prohibits firing people for testifying in trials in which they’ve been subpoenaed to testify, White said, adding that the lawsuit should send a message to Corey that she has no right to fire dedicated employees.

Good luck in winning that lawsuit...

I wonder if Zimmerman got a severance package... 🤔

Maybe that's what he was driving to Texas to get???:-k

They don't choose their leaders. White society IMO, to whom the leaders' messages are directed, makes the choice of whoever scares them the least.

10 years from now it will be Obama. Mark my words.

No way....I didn't vote for him.

There is no way that Obama can be the leader. He's half white and a recent foreign transplant.

That would be selling out.

Leading just one group in one nation isn't enough anymore. I'm betting Obama is the next Supremo Generale El Presidente for Life of the UN after he's done remaking the USA into little more than a banana republic.

Jesse is brilliant at manipulating and extorting. Look how he made himself MLK's right-hand man and collects graft and grants like bottle tops. A "reverend" who is pro-choice makes himself Leader and 95% the field hands naturally gravitated towards him upon command from their preachers and civil rights' folks. Speaking of preachers, reverends, et al, they may want to work on the 72+% illegitimacy rate and push a little abstinence. I know, I know, good jobs and little or no prison time will make their families whole again and bring teenage girls knees together again as in prior to the mid sixties.


In all honesty, we cackle and posture like epileptic hens but we REALLY don't care, do we? As long as they stay away in their parts of town...