THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 7, 1994 TAG: 9411070087
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATRICIA HUANG, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Urging support for the Democratic Party Sunday evening, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson warned African-American churchgoers that not voting in Tuesday's elections would be volunteering for slavery.
``Voluntary slavery is legal,'' he said to a packed audience at Norfolk's New Hope Church of God in Christ. ``If you don't vote. . . you're walking around looking for a boss.''
Jackson's endorsement of U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb and other Democrats, including Robert C. Scott, 3rd District U.S. congressional incumbent, was echoed by other ministers who one by one took the podium, rallying the crowd to ``make a difference.''
``There's a candidate who's straight up about only one thing - his name: North,'' said Alexander Jamison, a representative of the United Church of Christ. ``We stand firm to support Robb for U.S. Senate.''
In the crowded and stuffy church, some members fanned themselves with programs and pamphlets, uttering now and again, ``preach Jesse'' and ``talk about it.''
They listened as Jackson called the state of the world ``mean-spirited,'' and made reference to Haiti, the recent shooting at the White House and Susan Smith, the South Carolina woman accused of murdering her two young sons.
When Jackson learned of the ``imaginary black bandit'' carjacker in the Smith murder case, he said, ``I made the offer to be available to make peace.
Jackson said he'd called the FBI and South Carolina's Gov. Richard W. Riley to offer his help.
But now, he said, he is outraged that there has been no apology to the African-American community for the fictional black criminal.
``These are dangerous times,'' he said. ``In 1994, the stakes are high.''
Jackson, who made an appearance on a Washington talk show, appeared in Wilmington, Del., and spoke in Petersburg before coming to Norfolk, said that his reasons for endorsing Robb weren't based just on what the senator has done, ``but the team that he's on.''
Jackson said he didn't base his decision solely on a political party. ``People say blacks always vote Democrat. It's not a black thing. Don't be confused,'' he said.
But the ``black thing'' does weigh for some voters who said that North's seeming disinterest in minority affairs and the African-American community is one reason he isn't getting their vote.
Brenda Muhammad, a Virginia Beach resident and Robb supporter, said she believes many African Americans are discouraged with the country's political system. Many see Robb, she said, as the only candidate to take black votes seriously.
Shirley Alexander Hart, a member of the International Association of Ministers' Wives and Ministers' Widows Inc., put it this way in a brief speech to the congregation:
``We have been written off by certain candidates. Now I don't mind so much being lied to, for the Bible says we all have sinned and fallen. But I do mind not being acknowledged.'' by CNB