On Wednesday, November 16th the Ford School was honored to host a symposium for the Reverend Jesse Jackson, commemorating his long and distinguished career as a civil rights leader in our country. While it was a memorable day for all of our community, a small group of our student leaders had the opportunity to talk with Rev. Jackson and attend a reception in his honor. They were more than a little awed by this experience! During part of the day, Rev. Jackson accompanied the students to our Diag, where a student protest about some hateful incidents that had occurred on campus was being conducted. The chance to walk with a man who had been witness to so many important events in our history was well appreciated by the students. I asked some of them to express what this event meant to them and have included some of their responses below.

From Nashaira Verrier, 2nd year MPP student:

“It’s not everyday that you get to meet Rev. Jesse Jackson, let alone escort him to a protest at the diag. It was such an honor and a privilege to stand next to a man who has dedicated his entire life to working toward social justice and equality. This event and Rev. Jackson’s speech calling for unity and speaking out against racism, xenophobia, sexism, and Islamophobia could not have come at a better time and I am proud that the Ford School invited such a revolutionary civil rights leader to speak.”

From Ginelle Sanchez Leos, 2nd year MPP student:

“Just some background — I grew up in a household where my grandparents constantly praised Rev. Jesse Jackson and supported what his Rainbow Coalition stood for.  To them, Jesse Jackson represented the America that they, as immigrants from Mexico, worked so hard to bring their family to and he symbolized a promise that their children’s future would be better than the one they left behind.