Rev. Jackson vows to raise up new generation of young civil rights leaders
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2022
Rev. Jackson vows to raise up new generation of young civil rights leaders
Comments on U.S. probe of Houston’s illegal dumping in Black and Hispanic communities
Chicago, IL – Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Trae the Truth rapper, and supporters are holding an 11 a.m. press conference Saturday, July 23rd, at the Culture HTX, 2020 Leland St., Houston, TX, to announce a Get-Out-To-Vote (GOTV) and voter registration/education campaign, community service work and uniting social justice and civil rights.
Rev. Jackson will also address the U.S. Justice Department’s launching an environmental Justice investigation into the City of Houston for its illegal dumping that discriminates against Black and Latino Houston residents in violation of federal civil rights laws.
On the GOTV national campaign, Bishop Tavis Grant, national field director for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, said, “It is Rev. Jackson’s belief that it is his moral obligation to raise up a new generation of young leaders with a sense of obligation to keep his work alive.”
“Holding the press conference in Houston, Texas is significant to our movement in that there is a spirit of engagement rising up in the culture of rap and hip hop and it is contagious,” Bishop Grant said.
“Houston is the home of George Floyd. Trae the Truth is making sure through his community service and social justice consciousness that the fight continues.
“Without this type of energy and engagement, we can lose so much of the significant gains we’ve fought for in the last 45 years. This is the right time and the right place to birth a new generation of leadership we can trust and depend on moving forward,” Bishop Grant said.
Rev. Jackson, Trae that Truth and WOKE VOTE, are holing a voter registration “Chill Out & Vote” event Saturday, July 23rd, 3 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Aveva Stadium, 12131 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX.
On the issue of the DOJ’s probe into Houston’s illegal dumping in Black and Latino communities, Bishop Grant said, “Black and brown communities are often the dumping ground for not just garbage, trash or dead bodies but dumping grounds for lack of mental health services, lack of access to health care, lack of access to capital and the lack of income equity.
“The Department of Justice is taking the right steps at the right time. It is not just in Houston but all over the country. It’s systemic.
“We know that all preventative health starts with clean air, clean water, eliminating food deserts and raising the quality of life in communities that must have the direct engagement of the Justice Department to ensure that we have the protection under the law as it relates to environmental justice,” Bishop Grant said.
Rainbow PUSH Coalition is a multi-racial, multi-issue, progressive, international organization that was formed in December 1996 by the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. through merging of two organizations he founded Operation PUSH People United to Serve Humanity (estab. 1971) and the Rainbow Coalition (estab. 1984). With headquarters in Chicago and offices in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Oakland, the organization works to make the American Dream a reality for all citizens while advocating for peace and justice around the world. RPC is dedicated to improving the lives of all people by serving as a voice for the voiceless. Its mission is to protect, defend and gain civil rights by leveling the economic and educational playing fields while promoting peace and justice around the world.
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Keep up with Rev. Jackson and the work of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition at www.rainbowpush.org.