Rev. Jesse Jackson led students and community leaders in a crusade against the California recall and

Proposition 54 in a rally on Thursday on campus.

Sac State was one of seven schools on Jackson’s week-long Keep Hope Alive Campus Tour.

Jackson said the tour is part of a crusade to inform young voters on the effects of Prop. 54, the

California recall and the Republican Party’s right-wing agenda in the country.

“Today we fight a mean-spirited set of actions that threaten to disable democracy,” Jackson said at

a press conference before the rally in Joe Serna Plaza. “The mean spirited are loose in this nation

today.”

Hundreds gathered in Serna Plaza to listen to Jackson as he denounced the recall and Prop. 54, the

racial identity initiative on the Oct. 7 ballot.The speech was hosted by the Black Student Culture Association, Africans For Re-education,

Innovation, Consciousness and Achievement and Associated Students, Inc. Rev. Jackson plans to build

a chapter of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition here on campus in an effort to instill student

involvement.

Students like Nina Shoman said that the diversity and motivation by students was good to see.

“It’s very inspiring to see local activism motivated by the ‘No on 54’ campaign,” Shoman said. “I

hope activism like that stays on our campus.”

Jackson’s speech talked about the effects of the current right-wing agenda in American politics.

He said that voting for the recall was like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders.

“Vote no on the recall. Vote no on 54. Vote yes for Bustamante,” shouted Jackson as the crowd

chanted back.

Jackson said that the recent fee hikes are an example of how politics directly affects students.

“Students have so much at stake here, the administration will not tax the top 1 percent, but will

increase taxes on students,” Jackson said. “That must be challenged.”

During his speech, Jackson accused the Bush administration of having the same beliefs as

anti-reconstructionists following the Civil War.

Jackson also accused the GOP of diverting attention from important issues such as the economy and

instead starting the California recall and Proposition 54.

“This issue is not about Gray Davis,” Jackson said. “It’s about Bush, Wilson and Schwarzenegger–and

we must say no.”

Student Rodrick Freeman shared Jackson’s views of a diversion of attention to the economy.

“I have to agree with Jackson,” Freeman said. ” It’s not about (Prop.) 54 and the recall, but about

bullsh*t energy companies and the economy and our occupation in Iraq.”

The rally ended early Thursday afternoon with Jackson having the crowd join hands and bow their

heads in prayer.

He asked them to pray for American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also urged students to vote

in the upcoming election.

“If Chavez and Dr. King gave their lives, we can give one day for hope and we will prevail,” Jackson

said.