The Rev. Jesse Jackson coming to Louisville amid protests and calls for justice

Grace Schneider
Louisville Courier Journal

Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson is coming to Louisville Sunday for a conversation about race and justice with the Rev. Kevin Cosby.

Cosby said that he will interview Jackson on the topic "Why is our nation in such turmoil?"  It will be streamed live during worship services in front of a small audience of media members.

Church members are not taking part in in-person services because its campuses have remained closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Jackson most recently stepped into the spotlight in the wake of outrage and protests that have swept across the U.S. over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody after an officer knelt on his neck in Minneapolis. 

Louisville's own controversy, the fatal shooting of unarmed black woman Breonna Taylor during a March police raid on the woman's apartment and the shooting this week that killed barbecue-stand owner David McAtee, has ignited more criticism over police handling of minority communities and unequal justice.

Jackson last month went to lay a wreath at the spot where Floyd died in Minnesota, and met with Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and several ministers.

The two-time Democratic presidential candidate's mission has focused on protecting civil rights, addressing economic and educational imbalances and promoting peace and justice.

He told Vanity Fair magazine recently he worries about the current crisis, what he described as both a racial pandemic and the COVID pandemic. The virus threat during a huge wave of unrest across the U.S. and triggering protests in Europe hasn't gone away, he said.

"My biggest fear is: Do you have the discipline to fight back and not self-destruct in the process?"

The Rev. Jesse Jackson at the Louisville International Airport. 
5/22/18

Jackson visited Louisville just over two years ago for the funeral of his childhood friend and mentor the Rev. C. Mackey Daniels, 81, a longtime pastor of West Chestnut Street Baptist Church and local civil rights leader. 

The conversation will start at about 9:30 a.m. and will be available on ssclive.tvyoutube.com/ststephenlive and facebook.com/ssclive.

Grace Schneider: 502-582-4082; gschneider@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @gesinfk. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today:www.courier-journal.com/graces