by James Muhammad
Editor

CHICAGO (FinalCall.com)�The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. vowed to continue fighting for the poor and oppressed as he addressed a cheering audience Jan. 22 at his Rainbow/PUSH headquarters here.

It was a welcome similar to those he had received Jan. 20-21 at a public rally at his headquarters building and Sunday worship services at Salem Baptist church, where capacity audiences greeted the civil rights leader.

Controversy had enveloped Rev. Jackson, a prot�g� of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., following his Jan. 18 admission to fathering a child outside of his marriage. His announcement came as a story in the National Enquirer tabloid about the child and mother, Karin Stanford, a former employee of Rainbow/PUSH�s Washington, D.C., office, was published.

The story also broke virtually on the eve of the inauguration of President-elect George W. Bush and a protest demonstration in Tallahassee, Fla., that Rev. Jackson was to lead. The timing of the news evoked suspicion and anger throughout the Black community.

At the Jan. 22 luncheon with clergy and political leaders, Rev. Jackson announced he was ready to "rebuild a massive coalition of conscience" and that he would continue to oppose the nomination of John Ashcroft for attorney general. He also said he would work to protect abortion, support public education and worker�s rights and end the death penalty.

Initially, Rev. Jackson announced that he would temporarily withdraw from public engagements, however, the overwhelming support for him and his family and personal phone calls�including a call from Pres. Bush�convinced him to reconsider and continue his public pursuit of issues affecting the disenfranchised.

"As an organization and as board, we cannot afford to have Rev. Jackson on the sidelines for an undetermined period of time. The struggle for the disenfranchised continues and he is a part of that," said Rev. Willie T. Barrow, chair of the Rainbow/PUSH Board of Directors, announcing the Board�s support shortly after the news broke.

During the Jan. 21 worship service at Salem Baptist Church Rev. Jackson officially broke his public silence during a brief message from the pulpit. Accompanied by his wife Jackie, he expressed his love for her and his family, and he thanked the public for its support. "Life isn�t a straight line, there are curves in the road. We all face (trials)," he said after offering a prayer and then alluding to the inauguration of President George W. Bush, saying, "yesterday, the winds shifted. It�s a new stage of our challenge.

"We seek wellness for our families and the nation. What is the formula (for wellness)?" he asked, before reciting the Bible verse from II Chronicles 7:12, that also served as the mantra for the Million Man March.

At Rainbow/PUSH on Jan. 20, U.S. Congressmen Danny K. Davis and Bobby Rush, both Democrats from Illinois, joined clergy, local politicians, grassroots activists and a thousand supporters to voice encouragement for Rev. Jackson to reconcile with his family, but also to return to his life�s work as soon as possible.

"When the question is clearly framed, the answer becomes easy," said former Congressman Gus Savage, who flew into Chicago from Washington to attend the event. "When we recognize the question as, we need to do everything we can to keep George W. Bush from strengthening racism and reactionism ... the question then becomes, would more pressure be on Bush by Jesse standing up � or Jesse sitting down? With that as the question, the answer becomes clear," he said to a standing ovation.

Delivering words of encouragement on behalf of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan at both events, Nation of Islam Chief of Staff Leonard F. Muhammad�who led a delegation that also consisted of Nation of Islam Chief of Protocol Claudette Muhammad�warned the audience at Rainbow/PUSH not to be disunited.

"Whenever an unrighteous person attacks us this way, we should join ranks. We are friends (of Rev. Jackson) and we take this personal," he said.

Mr. Muhammad acknowledged the pain of the Jackson family, "but God has ordained pain for all of us," he said. "I pray for the family but make sure we don�t fail the test of being on the right side of history."

"Obviously, Rev. Jackson, because of the contributions he�s made on behalf of our people, enjoys community support throughout the country. It�s very clear that the revelation and timing of the release of the information was an effort to destabilize his leadership, but obviously that will not work. Black people are too loving, caring and understanding � and for accepting responsibility, he has probably gained more respect from our people," said Dr. Conrad Worrill, chairman of the National Black United Front (NBUF).

(Memorie Knox contributed to this report.)