[By Chinta Strausberg] For this year’s Thanksgiving service, Father Michael L Pfleger reached out for the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson,Sr., who worked with Pfleger’s mentor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and included several youth leaders who cried out for justice for Ferguson, Missouri’s slain Michael Brown and to fix a broken judicial system during his violent but Holy season of the year.
With a tilted scale of justice sitting on the altar, Pfleger said the justice system is broken and needs to be fixed. “If we dismantle evil where ever it raises, its head,” the process will be fixed. “Racism reigns. Racism is part of the DNA of America’s blood stream. Injustice is alive and well,” said Pfleger saying the country must have the courage to face the issue of racism and the dual treatment of African Americans.
Until that happens...until there is an equal playing field for blacks in America, Pfleger said, “We will continue to fail and we will continue to see Michael Brown’s, Trayvon Martin’s”and other unarmed black men shot down by police.
“So what do we do to” fix this dilemma”? asked Pfleger. “We pray then we get up and fight….” One youth lead a litany for children slain by violence where the congregation responded in a written statement.
Pfleger then turned the program over to youth leader, LaMar Johnson, who made a cry for justice, then Avery Bolden who made a statement of justice, followed by Sade Donald, anothercry for justice.
“The struggle we find ourselves in is not new,” Father Pfleger said. “The struggle is as old as Cain and Able.
Rev. Jackson referred to the Ferguson grand jury that decided there wasn’t enough evidence to recommend an indictment against officer Darren Wilson who shot unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown.
“Murder and hatred, injustice and violence have a long history and unfortunately deep roots and so is the truth and so is righteousness, so is love and so is peace,” Pfleger said. Faith,he said will help in the endurance of this fight for justice. “Dr. King showed us in the 1950’s and 1960’s that we can change the country and impact the world.” Pfleger said it was only fitting to call on Rev. Jackson to speak at Saint Sabina’s Thanksgiving Day service.
Rev. Jackson said, “God works in mysterious ways.” He too spoke of racism in America calling it a “mental illness.” Referring to Michael Brown, Jackson said he is more prevalent now than when he was alive and that “God is using his dead body to bring about(social and judicial) change.”
Discounting the decision of the grand jury in the Brown case, Jackson said juries have been wrong before like that in the cases of 14-year-old Emmett Till on August 28, 1955. The two white men who killed and mutilated his body were tried but exonerated by an all-white male jury. “Sometimes there are bad and unjust laws…like slavery,”Jackson said.
On the protesting in Jefferson, Mo., Jackson said, “We need jobs and justice not bricks and violence…” violence he says is nothing more than “political diversion. There is no healing in violence. There is no future in violence…. An eye-for-an-eye leaves everyone blind and ugly….”
There have been many Howard Morgan’s in America, Jackson said referring to Howard Morgan, a former Chicago police officer and then railroad detective who was shot 28 times mostly in his back after a traffic stop. While the police claimed Morgan pulled a gun, the jury ultimately ruled he did not have a weapon. While the first jury acquitted Morgan in 2007 on all charges except four counts of attempted murder, the jury was deadlocked. A retrial led to his conviction, and today 61-year-old Morgan is serving a 40-year sentence.
That, Rev. Jackson said there are Ferguson’s everywhere including in Chicago just as “there are Michael Brown’s every where….”
Jackson spoke on the closing of 50 schools, the closing of drug stores, high employment calling those conditions “ghetto policies.” “We need to enforce civil rights laws,” he said.
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For this year’s Thanksgiving service, Father Michael L Pfleger reached out for the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., who worked with Pfleger’s mentor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and included several youth leaders who cried out for justice for Ferguson, Missouri’s slain Michael Brown and to fix a broken judicial system. (All photos by Chinta Strausberg)
With a tilted scale of justice sitting on the altar, Pfleger said the justice system is broken and needs to be fixed. “If we dismantle evil where ever it raises, its head,” the process will be fixed. “Racism reigns. Racism is part of the DNA of America’s blood stream. Injustice is alive and well,” said Pfleger saying the country must have the courage to face the issue of racism and the dual treatment of African Americans.
With a tilted scale of justice sitting on the altar, Pfleger said the justice system is broken and needs to be fixed. “If we dismantle evil where ever it raises, its head,” the process will be fixed. “Racism reigns. Racism is part of the DNA of America’s blood stream. Injustice is alive and well,” said Pfleger saying the country must have the courage to face the issue of racism and the dual treatment of African Americans.
Rev. Jackson said, “God works in mysterious ways.” He too spoke of racism in America calling it a “mental illness.” Referring to Michael Brown, Jackson said he is more prevalent now than when he was alive and that “God is using his dead body to bring about (social and judicial) change.”
Discounting the decision of the grand jury in the Brown case, Jackson said juries have been wrong before like that in the cases of 14-year-old Emmett Till on August 28, 1955. The two white men who killed and mutilated his body were tried but exonerated by an all white male jury. “Sometimes there are bad and unjust laws…like slavery,” Jackson said.
Rev. Jackson addressing scores of Saint Sabina members.
There have been many Howard Morgan’s in America, Jackson said referring to Howard Morgan, a former Chicago police officer and then railroad detective who was shot 28 times mostly in his back after a traffic stop. While the police claimed Morgan pulled a gun, the jury ultimately ruled he did not have a weapon. While the first jury acquitted Morgan in 2007 on all charges except four counts of attempted murder, the jury was deadlocked. A retrial led to his conviction, and today 61-year-old Morgan is serving a 40-year sentence.
An awesome altar call
The incredible gospel great Cinque Cullar performed.
Rickey Harris, who heads the Saint Sabina "Spirit of David" praise dancers, performed in a very spiritual and emotional way.
Spirit of Davis praise dancers perform
Saint Sabina's youth choir sang their hearts out.
Youth leader LaMar Johnson gave a prayer entitled, "Cry for Justice."
Student leader Avery Bolden made a statement for justice.
Youth leader Sade Donald led a a litany for children slain by violence and traumatized by those called to 'serve and protect.' It was an a plea that included audience participation that prayed for the families of children who were victims of gun violence.
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