Reverend Jesse Jackson to speak at University of Oregon Feb. 16

Reverend Jesse Jackson, president and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, will visit the University of Oregon to talk about leadership and social justice. The talk, "With Justice for All: Human Rights and Civil Rights At Home and Abroad," will be open to the public on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Erb Memorial Union ballroom, 1222 E. 13th Ave. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

Rev. Jackson has been called the "conscience of the nation" and "the great unifier," challenging America to establish just and humane priorities. Over the past 30 years he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice. He is known for bringing people together on common ground across lines of race, class, gender and belief.

Jackson began his activism as a student leader in the sit-in movement and continued as a young organizer for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference as an assistant to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He went on to direct Operation Breadbasket and subsequently founded People United to Save Humanity (PUSH) in Chicago in 1971.

In addition to the public talk on Feb. 16, Jackson will speak at the UO's annual President's Leadership Symposium hosted by the Holden Leadership Center. The invitation-only symposium brings together student leaders from across campus to honor their accomplishments and foster further growth in their leadership abilities.

The visit is sponsored by the Holden Leadership Center, the Multicultural Center, Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Office of the President.

CONTACT: Julie Brown, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu

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