Ten O'Clock News; Mel King with Jesse Jackson, Part 1

Right. Flip the other one over. Who's the artist, the one that you've got there on the camera?

The artwork... [Crowd conversing ]Oh. [Crowd conversing ] Thank you. Very. [Crowd conversing ]Much. [Crowd conversing ] Thank.

[Applause] You. I [Applause] am. [Applause] I am. OK. I [Applause] am. [Applause]My. I [Applause]am. [Applause] OK. I am. Right. We.

[Unknown Woman, welcoming crowd] Inaudible ...welcoming you all to the press conference [Crowd noise, applause] [Male Campaign Worker] We want to welcome you all to the Rainbow Coalition.... It's a real pleasure to introduce and present, a person who has epitomized the

concept of struggle for change, for access, for all people. A person who is saying to the structure of the country, the people who are poor, people of Color, people who have been denied access, that we are no longer going to be taken for granted. The people are going to be included and share in the riches and the benefits of this society and culture. A person who is going to change, with all of

us, the concept of justice from one that, right now, says, for some people, 'just us,' to one where it's for all people, real justice, and equality. I want to present the country's Preacher, Jesse Jackson. [Applause] Ah. [Jesse Jackson] I am delighted, to have this opportunity to share with you today, to be a part of this great fervor, that we feel, here in Boston and New England. It's a fervor that is felt around the nation, as we now redefine Americana, as we fight

for equal protection under the law, as we fight to provide hope for the rejected, as we fight to make America real, and make America effective for everybody. Twenty years ago, many of us marched together to Washington, fighting for freedom. At that time, Blacks did not have the right to vote. Hispanics did not have the right to vote. Teenagers did not have the right to vote. Women felt that they had very little, for which to vote. And yet 20 years later, we now have our freedom. In the convention in San Francisco next year, it will be 50 percent female, 20 percent Blacks, Hispanics, Filipinos, Asians,

Native Americans. Thus, 20 years later, the democracy has made an amazing adjustment. Now we need not explode through riots, to be heard, ??? or implode through drugs, in despair. We can now use the ballot, as a legitimate lever for change and transition through elections, and not through bloody revolution. The democratic political order has made an amazing adjustment. Twenty years ago we fight for freedom. Today we fight for equality. Then we marched for welfare. Now we march for our share. In part, Mel King's candidacy that never again, should a Black, or Hispanic, or a woman or a Jew, experience any limitations on vertical growth, and upward mobility because the Race, Sex or Religion.

This generation must remove the ceiling that imposed upon people, because of their Race, their Sex, or their Religion. This is a drive, not to dominate, but to participate; a drive to share power. A drive to share responsibility, and to make America real for everybody. But, beyond just our share of power, there must be a commitment to new values. We must go another way. There must be in this nation a full commitment to equal protection under the law, a commitment to enforce the Voting Rights Act, a commitment to remove the remaining impediments. No longer can we allow gerrymandering, annexation, at-large, dual registration and second primaries to be used as new forms of denial, tp replace old forms of denial.

It's just good to know, that in Boston you have a Mel King, a man who has a combination of integrity, intelligence, involvement, experience. This plant, this flower, this fruit, has been developed from the bottom up, not from the top down. Our job is to focus on those [boats or votes ????] that are stuck on the bottom. If those boats [????] that are stuck on the bottom move all boats [????] most make an adjustment. It's just a tremendous opportunity that I share with you today, to be a part of this great fervor a change in this nation. I get the impression, that people in Massachusetts have minds of change. In 1980 Reagan won the state by twenty five hundred votes. I get the impression, that there's

a change in Massachusetts, as I look at the Womens' Convention, the Spanish Convention, this great drive by Blacks, for political participation, a change has come. Lastly, Brother Mayor, I want to congratulate you on your leadership, using the leverage of your leadership to organize a Rainbow Coalition. ????? on projects. [Applause] Thank you very much. Congratulations. I am. [MEL KING]: And we'd like to give you this book, as a token of our appreciation for coming to us. [JESSE JACKSON]: Thank you very much. am. [MEL KING]: Uh, we can take a few questions. [MAN]: Reverend Jackson, so we're thrilled that you're here today to support Mel King. We're also very thrilled about the possibility of you as a presidential candidate. It has helped galvanize political activism in the Black community, in a political

[Unintelligible ??]Right. ...the Democratic Party...[Inaudible] ...Only... so... One...the economic conditions...party... more a right party... and no longer... for consideration...

wait. Oh well. Primary losers... the winner...will you endorse John ... or Walter Mondale, Democrat, ... Democrat, or will you endorse ... Independent Candidate? [Jackson] It's a bit premature, for me to answer all of that question. Besides, I'm really here on another agenda. But let me say this part of it Now listen to this -- the Democratic Party reflects who is in it. It also reflects who is out of it. We're bringing a new dimension in it, and there must be a new litmus test for the Democratic Party to face up to. One, we must now have reciprocal voting, if Blacks and Hispanics vote for whites, you must expect them to vote for us. That's a test of his character. Play the

game by one set of rules. Second, where there is integrated voting, to be integrated slate-making. Beyond that, there must be a room made now, for those were locked out. Thirdly, those new forms of impediments: second primaries, dual registration, gerrymandering, annexation-at-large. Those schemes must end. I would say this: In my judgment, at this time, if one wants to run a major, campaign as an Independent in '84, it would appeal, very much to the Reagan forces, and we have a dual agenda. On the one hand we must remove the repressive Reagan regime, on the other hand, we must achieve parity. I think when you let the Mel Kings of the world, you get two for one. You achieve parity and remove Reagan at the same time. [Unk Speaker] ??? Whether or not you run for president, I'll... [Jackson] I'm not yet made the judgment.

I'm exploring the option of running in the Democratic Primaries for the nomination, all within the Democratic Party. I think it will add another three or four million Black and youthful voters which span the Rainbow Coalition. We will expand the party, therefore, strengthening our options in 1984. Historically, America has been schizophrenic on the question of Race. We've had some very low moments, we've had some very high moments. This is one of those high moments. A high moment was when Crispus Attucks died. They have free America from the spot, a low moment was ???? a day here ???? expose the rise in the city. A high moment was Bill Russell and TJ winning championships for the Celtics. A low moment was Reagan winning Massachusetts in '80. A high moment, Mel King becoming Mayor next Tuesday. [Cheering]

[crowd conversing ]Definitely not allowed. But. I get. [STATIC]