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.
Pentagon says it’s cutting ties with ‘woke’ Harvard, ending military training
Amid an ongoing standoff between Harvard and the White House, the Defense Department said it plans to cut ties with the Ivy League — ending military training, fellowships and certificate programs.
‘Washington Post’ CEO resigns after going AWOL during massive job cuts
Washington Post chief executive and publisher Will Lewis has resigned just days after the newspaper announced massive layoffs.
In this Icelandic drama, a couple quietly drifts apart
Icelandic director Hlynur Pálmason weaves scenes of quiet domestic life against the backdrop of an arresting landscape in his newest film.
After the Fall: How Olympic figure skaters soar after stumbling on the ice
Olympic figure skating is often seems to take athletes to the very edge of perfection, but even the greatest stumble and fall. How do they pull themselves together again on the biggest world stage? Toughness, poise and practice.
They’re cured of leprosy. Why do they still live in leprosy colonies?
Leprosy is one of the least contagious diseases around — and perhaps one of the most misunderstood. The colonies are relics of a not-too-distant past when those diagnosed with leprosy were exiled.
This season, ‘The Pitt’ is about what doesn’t happen in one day
The first season of The Pitt was about acute problems. The second is about chronic ones.
