PORTLAND, Ore — Rev. Jesse Jackson called for peace and perseverance on Sunday as he urged congregants in Portland to keep fighting for racial justice.
Rev. Jesse Jackson in Portland calls for peace, equality after Ferguson protests
December 1, 2014 at 12:45AM
He gave a morning sermon at Emmanuel Temple, a day after 10 people were arrested in Portland following a protest related to the Ferguson, Missouri, police shooting.
Jackson criticized the grand jury that decided Monday not to indict Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson, who shot Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, in August, The Oregonian reported (http://is.gd/EVJZ4N).
But Jackson took aim at other systemic and national racial disparities, including the lack of people of color on the boards of technology companies.
He also called on President Barack Obama and others in Congress to go to Ferguson, according to OPB.
"It's discouraging sometimes, but we shouldn't give up," Jackson said. "We have won so many battles."
Jackson also spoke at a rally at the Justice Center in downtown Portland Saturday night, where he urged protesters to be vigilant but nonviolent.
Portland police say that after Jackson left that rally, some protesters marched around downtown and sporadically disrupted traffic. Officials say some bottles were thrown at officers and a police car was damaged.
Police say the arrests came Saturday night "after a large group of protesters laid down in the street and refused lawful orders to clear the roadway."
Police said Sunday that seven adults were booked into jail, two were given citations to appear in court and one 17-year-old was released to his mother. They face charges that include disorderly conduct.
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