Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks at voter engagement rally in Racine
RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Racine voters were invited to a Get Out the Vote rally Monday, where the guest of honor was the legendary civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson.
Rev. Jackson's turning 83 next month, and no one would blink an eye if he decided to retire from the political world at this point, but Rev. Jackson's doing no such thing.
As the music plays, two men turn Rev. Jesse Jackson's wheelchair so he can better see the singer.
"I don't think Parkinson's knew what it was undertaking when it took the Rev. Jackson's body," said Rev. Chauncey Brown, director of the 1,000 Churches Initiative with Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease over seven years ago but Get Out the Vote events like this one in Racine are something the former presidential candidate and head of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition continues to attend.
"He is still fighting, and he will tell you today that give him a week or two and he'll be walking strong again," said Rev. Brown.
The Rev. Jackson was able to stand with assistance, drawing smiles at Christ Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, where speakers said they weren't here to tell you who to vote for, just to vote.
"Because what happens when we vote? We what? When we vote, we what?"
"We win!" said one speaker to the audience.
Off the podium, some opinions circulated.
"You know, being an African American woman - yes, it means a little bit something extra. My vote this time is like, ah, I could vote for somebody that's like me. So that is exciting," said state Rep. Lakeshia Myers, Milwaukee 12th Assembly district.
"I want to vote for anybody who's gonna end genocide in Gaza. I want to vote for people who consider African Americans equal and think that reparations are fair," said Justin Blake, whose nephew Jacob Blake was shot by Kenosha police in 2020.
Early voting begins Oct. 22. Rev. Jackson himself, though frail and hard to hear, was able to tell people he's personally working to get out the vote.
"We need 25,000 votes," said Rev. Jackson.
During the 1984 and 1988 presidential election years, Rainbow PUSH tells us Rev. Jackson was able to get nine-million people registered to vote.
"We know what the goal is. Let's go for it," said Rev. Jackson.
Rev. Jackson is reportedly on a 10-state bus tour pressing young people to register to vote before Nov. 5.