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TO WELCOME THE REVEREND JESSE LOUIS JACKSON, SR. BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN AND TO THANK HIM FOR CONTINUING TO BE ONE OF THE NATION'S FOREMOST LEADERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR WORKING TO BRIDGE THE GAP ACROSS RACE, CLASS, GENDER, AND BELIEF FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES.
Whereas, the citizens of Greenville are proud to have a native son, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., as the keynote speaker at the 2006 Martin Luther King Week Celebration; and
Whereas, the Reverend Jackson is a native of Greenville, South Carolina, having graduated from Sterling High School. After earning a Bachelor's degree from North Carolina A & T State University, he received a degree in Divinity from the Chicago Theological Seminary; and
Whereas, Reverend Jackson began his career as a full time civil rights organizer by working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In December 1971, he founded Operation PUSH, which works toward expanding educational, business, and employment opportunities for disadvantaged people of color; and
Whereas, in 1984 Reverend Jackson founded the Rainbow Coalition, a social justice organization devoted to political empowerment, education, and equality in public policy; and
Whereas, Reverend Jackson promotes voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns across the nation and continues to be an advocate for important public policy issues, including health care, sufficient funding for enforcement of civil laws, and increased attention to business investments in under-served communities; and
Whereas, Reverend Jackson is highly respected around the world, having served as a trusted world leader, acting as an international diplomat in sensitive situations. And here at home, Reverend Jackson prides himself on his commitment to youth, regularly visiting high schools, colleges, and universities encouraging excellence, inspiring hope, and challenging students to study diligently and to stay in school; and
Whereas, Reverend Jackson writes a weekly column, syndicated in several major newspapers, and has authored two books, Keep Hope Alive and Straight from the Heart, as well as co-authored numerous others. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina welcome back to his hometown and congratulate Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. for continuing to be one of the nation's foremost leaders for civil rights for nearly four decades.
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