Jesse Jackson applauds Hillary Clinton's understanding of Black Lives Matter

(Image credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

published 27 July 2016

Rev. Jesse Jackson called for an assault rifle ban and end to the shootings of "young black men" during his speech Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention, adding that Hillary Clinton "understands the historic dimensions of the agony, hope, and promise of Black Lives Matter."

The civil rights leader also took a moment to congratulate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for "energizing this campaign season," and told supporters that "the Bern must never grow cold." Jackson shared that he met Clinton years ago in Arkansas, and has watched her work tirelessly for children and the poor for decades. "There is a tug of war for America's soul," he said. "We have a clear choice, to take down the walls of separation and build bridges of hope and build unity." Love must "trump ignorance," Jackson said, and overcome "fear and hatred and violence." At the end of his speech, Jackson led the audience in a chant of "It's healing time, it's hope time, it's Hillary time."

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.