Rev. Jesse Jackson promises to join Dontre Hamilton protests

Internationally-known civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, Sr. promised support and future rallies for Dontre Hamilton's family Saturday.  Jackson welcomed the Hamiltons and their supporters to his Rainbow PUSH world headquarters in Chicago.

\"We will not let Dontre die,\" Jackson said during an hour-long service.

The ceremony came five days after Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced he would not indict former Milwaukee police officer Christopher Manney.  Manney shot Dontre Hamilton 14 times after a physical altercation in Milwaukee's Red Arrow Park April 30.

\"Killing a man for resting in a park is not justifiable,\" Hamilton's brother Nate Hamilton said Saturday.  \"We stand with all the families.  We cannot sleep on injustice.\"

Reverend Jackson reminded the crowd of various cases of officer-involved deaths nationwide, mentioning Michael Brown and Eric Garner.   But Jackson focused much of his attention during the second half of his sermon on Wisconsin, referencing Hamilton, Derek Williams and Frank Jude.

\"There is, in Milwaukee, a pattern of blacks being killed by police,\" Jackson said.

\"It's a systemic cancer that exists in Milwaukee and we need the nation and the world to know and to stand with us,\" State Senator Lena Taylor said.

Family attorney Alex Flynn says the Hamiltons are pleased with a federal investigation into Chisholm's decision. Flynn says a civil rights lawsuit could follow, but urged positive relations with police.

\"We are not here to vilify them,\" Flynn said during a press conference following the service.  \"We are here to appeal to everyone's better angels and say, 'That man was killed.'  This family is a good family who is really grieving.\"

\"Police are not the cause of unemployment,\" Jackson said. \"They're not the cause of the home foreclosures. They're not the fault of can't get bank loans for business development.\"

The Hamilton family wouldn't speak with media after the ceremony, but Jackson promised he'd help lead future protests.

\"We will keep marching for jobs, justice and an even playing field,\" Jackson said.

Reverend Jackson wouldn't say specifically when he'll come to Milwaukee to march, but he guaranteed it would happen, saying \"We're coming.\"