Hundreds of well-wishers, including members of Congress, gathered June 30 at Rainbow/PUSH headquarters here to welcome Mrs. Jackson, who was arrested on June 18 on the Puerto Rican Island of Vieques for trespassing in an area that the U.S. Navy uses for bombing practice. Protesters are convinced that the bombing is causing environmental and health problems for residents.

Mrs. Jackson, who was charged with misdemeanor trespassing, refused to post the $3,000 bail and refused a body-cavity strip search. As a result, she was placed in solitary confinement, where she refused to eat and demanded to be released on her own recognizance. Mrs. Jackson is now serving one year probation.

During the �Welcome Home� celebration, which was broadcast live on television and radio, Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) announced that he would lead a delegation of congressmen to Vieques to investigate the bombing and protest arrests.

�We will also go to each of the 93 U.S. District Courts and find out what they�re doing about the body cavity searches on women. They don�t body cavity search men,� he charged.

�I had the privilege and responsibility to lecture U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft on what our Constitution says, what Title 18 of the criminal code says and what the regulations of the Federal Bureau of Prisons say. They were wrong on every count (in handling Mrs. Jackson). We�re going to Vieques and we will get this mess straightened out,� Rep. Conyers said, explaining there are laws that dictate when body searches are necessary.

U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez, who encouraged Mrs. Jackson to go to Vieques and welcomed here home upon her arrival at O�Hare Airport, was also arrested for protesting the naval bombing exercises and is scheduled to be sentenced during the first week of July.

Among the many family members and supporters of Mrs. Jackson at the �Welcome Home� celebration were Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, wife of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, and a delegation from the Nation of Islam.

The previous day, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Mother Khadijah, attended a private reception for Mrs. Jackson. Among the Nation of Islam delegation were Mother Tynnetta Muhammad, wife of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, Chief of Staff Leonard F. Muhammad, Chief of Protocol Claudette M. Muhammad and Min. Benjamin Muhammad, director of the Million Family March.

During the private reception, Rev. Jackson told the crowd that his wife�s actions were revolutionary, praising her for her courage and commending her non-negotiable stand for dignity.

�When you suffer and sacrifice enough, you win,� Rev. Jackson said. �Jackie suffered voluntarily. She didn�t have to go to jail. She meant to take the risk. Human rights are indivisible. We understand that all people fought together to free South Africa and we must stand together and fight to free Vieques.

�That�s what the rainbow is�all members of our human family. We are so proud of what she did and the sacrifice she made,� Rev. Jackson said.

Mrs. Jackson has had a strong history of activism and concern for international affairs. If it had not been for a nation of people who stood in readiness to assist her, she said, she would still be languishing in prison.

Shortly after arriving in Vieques, Mrs. Jackson spoke with women, whom she said moved her heart, and gave her full details regarding the pollution as a result of the bombing, some of which took place in their own backyards.

Mrs. Jackson said the local fishermen, who spearheaded the resistance to the bombings, now have hardened arteries from the effects of the bombing and there has been a reported increase of cancer on the island.

�I stood in harms way by creating a human shield to prevent that day�s exercise of bombing. When I was arrested and went to court, I pleaded guilty. I participated in an act of civil disobedience because I think that is the only alternative a non-violent people have when nearly all of their voices have been ignored and are silenced,� she said.

Mrs. Jackson said her experience was humiliating. The length of the process and attitude of the people equaled total disrespect, she explained. Mrs. Jackson said her gold bracelet was cut off her arm and was replaced by hand cuffs. Her ankles and waist were shackled and she was asked twice by a guard to submit to a body-cavity search.

Mrs. Jackson refused, reminding prison officials of court decisions banning body cavity searches unless illegal substances were believed to be present. She was then sent to solitary confinement.

�When solitary confinement is imposed on you, the only thing you can do is grab God. I began to do some serious praying, refused to eat and told them that I would no longer participate in their incarceration procedures,� she said.

�After fasting for five days, my body began to reject the tap water and my kidney�s became weak, but my pain and suffering cannot be measured or compared to the people who started this movement, who are still languishing in the penal institution. We need each other. Human rights is not a color problem. It�s something that should concern all of us, because all of us have the right to the pursuit of happiness, clear air, self determination and our own government. These are ideals that we need to protect.�

Inspired by her powerful testimonial of her incarceration and stand on the bombing in Vieques, women leaders told The Final Call that Mrs. Jackson�s actions speak louder than words.

Mrs. Jackson is not a novice in the area of civil and human rights, said Rev. Dr. Addie Wyatt, who is known for her international leadership on women�s rights. Years ago, Rev. Wyatt traveled to Puerto Rico to develop women union leaders in the workforce.

�Anytime you see a precious woman do such an excellent job in raising five children while standing by her outstanding husband�s side, it makes us proud of her as mothers and wives. This has helped to strengthen and make her the strong woman that she is. I can understand the struggle and commitment that�s needed in order to improve the lives of Puerto Rican people everywhere. Those who are sensitive to the struggle of poor people and working people understand how important it was to have her take a stand and identify with that struggle,� Dr. Wyatt said.

Referring to Mrs. Jackson as a life-long fighter for human rights, Rev. Dr. Janet Wilson said she remembers the powerful impact that Mrs. Jackson had when she took a delegation of women to Ethiopia to address drought and hunger and when she lead a cluster of clergy to the Middle East to dialogue with its leaders.

�I think it�s particularly significant that she decided to lift women of faith to another level. Many of us have become encased in the ritual of our faith tradition, but have not moved to practice what we hear. Mrs. Jackson has now issued a challenge to women across the world to stand up for the rights of women everywhere. What she has done by going to Vieques and suffering for all of us says that women must have an insult level, followed by an action level. We see her as an example of what it really means to be a woman of faith and a woman of God,� Dr. Wilson said.