The mission remains the same as it did 50 years ago for the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Jackson, who began his day at Lane College encouraging students to register to vote and discussing the state of the nation, took his message to the Light of Life Ministries Church at 411 Fairmont Avenue – to move from a racial battleground to economic common ground to a moral higher ground.

“Health care matters, a formal education matters, a living wage matters,” Jackson said, Monday. “People can’t get a basic meal, why do we need a military parade in Washington? We spend more money on the military than the next 50 nations combined.

“China, Japan, France, Germany – we spend more money on (our) military than the next 50 countries). We don’t need to show off, we need to make Heaven happy, feed the hungry and cloth the naked.”

Jackson said we live in a nation where some people have too much – and too many have almost nothing.

He echoed an ongoing campaign that calls for at least a $15 an hour minimum wage – citing those who drive cabs, those who raise other people’s children, cut grass and rake leaves for a living.

“We’re very happy Rev. Jackson took the time to come to Jackson, Tennessee,” Bill Rawls, mayor of Brownsville said. “We too often feel disconnected in our communities. He’s coming back to the church to talk about voter empowerment, voter registration, the power of the ballot box and the resources available to us.

“We (are) hoping his visit reignites some hope in our community to help our community. I truly believe true real change begins from the bottom up, not the top down.”

Jackson continues his tour with speaking engagements scheduled for Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi and Nashville, Tuesday.

(PHOTO: Jerry Gist, mayor of Jackson, right, presents Rev. Jesse Jackson with a pair of cufflinks, at Light of Life Ministries Church, Monday)

David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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