https://www.facebook.com/notes/chinta-strausberg/the-jacksons-vow-to-fight-to-the-end-to-restore-jrw-championship-trophy/10152714668870866?pnref=story

May take buses to Nat’l League

By Chinta Strausberg

In a fight back mode, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., who was joined by his son, Jonathan Jackson, Father Michael L. Pfleger and members of the Jackie Robinson West (JRW) team, Saturday called on supporters to write the Little League International Headquarters and demand that the JRW national championship be restored.

Jackson, who held a rally at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, 930 E. 50^th St., urged the public to write, call, fax, e-mail and Twitter the Little League International Baseball and Softball Headquarters, 539 US Route 15 Hwy, Attn: Mr. Stephen D. Keemer, P.O. Box 3485, Williamsport, PA 17701-0485, call: (570) 326.1921 and fax (570) 326.1074. When using social media, Jackson urged supporters to use hashtag: #JRWChamps.

Jackson said he might bring some buses up to Williamsport, PA and have a prayer meeting to make a “moral, non-violent appeal to sustain the trophies our children have already won,” he told a cheering crowd. Jackson said the lesson to be learned in this is that “You don’t have to be guilty to be crucified.”

With the help of Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-16^th, former Illinois Senator Emil Jones and Ald. Carrie Austin (34^th), Jackson asked them to form a commission with the goal of erecting a statue in honor of JRW in addition to getting them full scholarships to college.

Both Jackson Sr., and his son said blacks in Chicago have been “scattered” due to the displacement of public housing residents when CHA buildings were razed, the closing of 50 schools, most on the West and South Sides of Chicago, and Jonathan Jackson also blamed segregated schools that have poor resources including 50 percent of them not having libraries and the high murder rate of children in the black community.

Jackson Sr. said African Americans do not have parks to practice in and called for “the building of a field house “for our children.”  The JRW team, he said, “are our heroes…. These children are more than champions. They are our heroes.” Jonathan Jackson said they “are the champions and there is no doubt about that.”

Jonathan Jackson said the team has “paid their dues” and warned others not to cause these 13-year-old boys to “stumble.” Jonathan Jackson said many things have happened to 13-year-old black men like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who won an oratorical contest and decided then overturn an unfair system.

Jonathan Jackson said the children won, their skills were excellent and they were age appropriate. He said, “Segregation is the problem here…. That is the criminal, not the parents or the children….” “We know that bullyism is wrong. These youth…have won the trophy….”

“These children are miracles,” Jackson Sr. said. “This is a long distance race. We’re going to fight to the end….”

Jackson Sr. told reporters said, “To the victor should go the spoils.”

One of the JRW team members, Brandon Green, was asked how did he feel about the support they were getting. He responded: “It shows that we can come together as a community and support one another.”

His mother, Venisa Green, said, “I had no doubt that my community would be here to support this injustice that has happened to 13 year-old African American children in the city of Chicago. She wants her son to know that “when injustice is done, it just doesn’t impact you. It impacts an entire nation and that is why we will continue to fight.”

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