Roommates, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, 79, was among around 20 protestors who were arrested outside the U.S. Capitol building to protest the continuous stalling of the passing of the Voting Rights Bill. The legendary civil rights leader Jesse Jackson was part of a peaceful demonstration organized by the Poor People’s Campaign to protest the filibuster from Republicans that has been used to block the Voting Rights Bill in Congress.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson, along with Reverend William Barber, led a crowd of peaceful protestors in a march to the U.S. Capitol when they were arrested for allegedly crowding and obstructing. The additional details of their arrest, such as how long they were detained or if they were charged, were not immediately made available.
While at the protest, Jesse Jackson gave a speech to the crowd and stated he was anticipating being arrested. “We come not as an insurrection group, but as a resurrection group…today we must fill up the jails,” he said.
Earlier this week, the For the People Act fell short of the 60 votes needed in the Senate to overcome a GOP-backed filibuster. The 50-50 vote means that it didn’t meet amendment process that would shape the eventual legislation. Democrats heavily criticized the Republicans for opposing the bill, stating that shooting it down is the equivalent to denying Americans the right to vote.
Additionally, before the vote actually took place, President Joe Biden urged Congress to pass the important voting bill:
“We can’t sit idly by while democracy is in peril – here, in America. We need to protect the sacred right to vote and ensure ‘We the People’ choose our leaders, the very foundation on which our democracy rests. We urgently need the For The People Act. Send it to my desk.”
As of now, Reverend Jesse Jackson has not publicly spoke about his arrest.
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