Jesse Jackson Facing Civil Trial

[Guest guest]

Court Rules Jesse Jackson Must Face Civil Trial for Assault and

Civil Rights Violations

 

Judicial Watch represents Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson in claims against

Jackson

 

 

(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that

investigates and prosecutes corruption, today announced that on

January 17, 2006, Jesse Lee Peterson, et al., v. Jesse Jackson, et

al. (BC 266505) will go to trial in Los Angeles County Superior

Court after a ruling last week by Judge George H. Wu. Judicial

Watch filed the lawsuit against Jackson, his son Jonathan, and

others on behalf of Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, who was the victim of a

physical and verbal assault at an event hosted by Jackson's

Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. in

December 2001. Rev. Peterson is an ordained minister, who has

dedicated his life to working with underprivileged black youth and

men in our society.

 

 

 

The Jacksons and the Rainbow/PUSH coalition, who had sought to have

the case dismissed, will now face multiple civil charges, including:

Assault, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and a

California Civil Rights Claim. Jonathan Jackson also will face the

additional charges of Battery and False Imprisonment.

 

 

 

Judicial Watch's lawsuit stems from a public meeting held in Los

Angeles, California on December 10, 2001 to discuss participation in

Toyota's "21st Century Diversity Strategy," which had been announced

after Jackson and Rainbow/PUSH threatened to boycott Toyota. After

remarks from Jackson and Toyota representative Irving Miller, the

meeting was opened up to questions from the audience. Rev. Peterson

asked Miller if black Republicans and conservative groups like his

organization, Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND),

would have to go through Rev. Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH in order to

participate in the Toyota program.

 

 

 

Jackson told the crowd, "And the issue, for the record…is not

conservative or liberal. The issue is certain parasites trying to

pick up fruit from trees they didn't shake." Rev. Peterson

testified that after the "parasite" comment, the crowd became "more

hostile….Some of the words I can't even mention here."

 

 

 

Within minutes following adjournment of the meeting, Jonathan

Jackson struck Rev. Peterson and Rev. Peterson was physically

threatened and verbally assaulted by both Jesse Jackson and Jonathan

Jackson. Incited by Jackson's earlier remarks, an angry crowd

gathered, cursing, shoving and encircling Rev. Peterson and one of

his associates. "I feared for my life," said Peterson.

 

 

 

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said, "Jesse Jackson attempted

to use every legal trick at his disposal to have this case

dismissed, and he failed. This trial is a major step in holding

Jackson accountable for his actions."

 

 

 

"I'm pleased the court ruled in our favor," said Reverend

Peterson. "I am looking forward to taking my case to court and to

forcing Jesse Jackson to answer for his actions."

 

 

 

To read a legal brief summarizing the allegations against Jackson,

log on to Judicial Watch's Internet site, www.judicialwatch.org, or

 

http://www.judicialwatch.org/jacksontrial.shtml