Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. Tells Students to “Use That Vote as a Weapon”
The Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. visited Birmingham this morning to talk to local community leaders and students about empowerment and the importance of being civic minded. Jackson was keynote speaker at Wenonah High School’s 13th Annual Unity Breakfast. He urged the crowd to follow the political process and register to vote.
“If you can learn the Star Spangled Banner and the Pledge of Allegiance, you can also to learn to register and vote,” Jackson said. He told students that a diploma symbolizes knowledge and wisdom, but a voter card symbolizes power and responsibility.
“What makes America great is we have the right to fight for the right. Use that vote as a weapon,” said Jackson.
Rachel Osier Lindley,WBHM
Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. and Birmingham leaders sing “We Shall Overcome.”
He told students they can draw deeper meaning from the recent success of Alabama’s college football programs.
“Whenever the playing field is even, the goals are clear, the referees are fair and the score is transparent, we all get along,” Jackson said. “Those we must apply to medicine and science and education.” Jackson said the same schools that produce the best athletes can also produce scholars in chemistry and math.
Jackson also criticized Alabama for not expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, saying it forced the state’s poorer residents to make impossible choices between things like food or healthcare.
“We should all live above that standard. America’s too wealthy to have this many working poor people,” he commented.
Jackson says it’s hypocritical to accept government money for roads and military bases but not for health care.
Rachel Osier Lindley,WBHM
Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. poses with Birmingham political and religious leaders.
4 lives are upended by an impulsive kiss in the epic novel ‘Buckeye’
Patrick Ryan's novel focuses on two married couples and stretches from pre-WWII to the close of the 20th century, capturing both the sweep of history and the mundane particularity of everyday life.
Trump makes a rare D.C. restaurant visit to tout his federal crackdown on crime
In his first term, President Trump only dined out at the steakhouse in his former hotel. He visited a steakhouse near the White House on Tuesday, saying, "I wouldn't have done this three months ago."
Fired FBI agents allege retribution, incompetence at top security agency
The lawsuit from three senior and lauded FBI agents at the bureau says Trump administration demanded loyalty for those staying at the bureau.
Happy 75th birthday to Henry Huggins, Ramona Quimby’s big-kid neighbor
Beverly Cleary's fictional third grader with an adopted dog named Ribsy made his debut in 1950. Cleary was praised for writing simple, humorous stories that kids wanted to read.
California considers allowing doctors to prescribe abortion drugs anonymously
If passed, the law would protect doctors from legal risk by letting them omit their names from prescription labels for abortion pills. It would affect the many doctors who use California pharmacies.
Sabrina Carpenter crashes the charts at No. 1, again
This week's albums and singles charts are both dominated by the same record: Sabrina Carpenter's Man's Best Friend, which debuts at No. 1 and lands all 12 of its songs in the Hot 100's top 40.
