10 O'Clock News | [Jesse Jackson endorses Mel King for mayor, tape 1 of 2]

Jesse Jackson campaigns for Mel King in Boston

[Jesse Jackson endorses Mel King for mayor, tape 1 of 2]
Original Airdate: 10/6/1983

Length: 00:18:51
Item Type: newstape - original footage

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Full Description

1:00:04
Visual: Campaign workers for Mel King (candidate for Mayor of Boston), many of them white, hold campaign signs and sell T-shirts and buttons outside of the Concord Baptist Church in the South End. A campaign worker models his own King T-shirt, which has a campaign slogan in English, Spanish and Chinese. He helps customers find sizes among the multi-colored shirts, which are displayed on a table. An Asian woman arrives with a King campaign sign in Chinese.
Shot of Mel King baseball caps displayed along a fence.
More campaign workers arrive with signs.
Shot of the church, with campaign workers standing on the sidewalk and in the street.
A truck mounted with two speakers drives along the street. The driver speaks into a microphone, alerting passersby to the arrival of Jesse Jackson (African American political leader).

1:04:11
V: A limousine pulls up outside of the church. King and Jackson exit the limousine and stand in the street. The crowd applauds and cheers, "We want Mel."

1:05:04
V: Jackson and King stand before the media in a room set up for a press conference. They shake hands and raise linked arms. King and Jackson sit down at a table at the front of the room. King gets up and stands at a podium. He welcomes the audience and introduces Jesse Jackson. King commends Jackson's struggle for equality on behalf of minorities and the disenfranchised. King refers to Jackson as a "country preacher."

1:08:10
V: Jackson stands at the podium. He talks about the civil rights movement and the struggle for equal access for all minorities. Jackson says that no one must be denied access or participation because of their race, sex, or religion. Jackson talks about the need for equal protection under the law. Jackson says that voting irregularities must be eliminated; that the Voting Rights Act must be enforced. Jackson says that King has a good combination of experience, integrity, and intelligence; that Massachusetts is ready for a change. Jackson congratulates King on the organization of a Rainbow Coalition in Massachusetts. King presents Jackson with a copy of his book, Chain of Change. Jacson and King and King's supporters raise linked arms while the crowd cheers.

1:14:09
V: Shot of an African American man in the audience.
Jackson and King take questions from the audience. An audience member asks Jackson about the possibility of his running for president as an independent candidate, or of his supporting an independent candidate. Jackson says that it is too soon to answer the audience members questions; that the Democratic Party reflects its membership. Jackson says that there must be reciprocal voting within the Democratic Party; that white voters must vote for minority candidates if minority candidates vote for white candidates; that there must be integrated slates of candidates. Jackson says that voting irregularities can be used to keep people from the polls; that voting irregularities must be eliminated. Jackson says that he has two objectives: to achieve parity and to fight Reagan. Jackson adds that a King victory in Boston accomplishes both of his objectives. The audience applauds. Another audience member asks Jackson if he will run for president. Jackson says that he is considering a campaign for the Democratic Party nomination. An audience member asks Jackson about Boston's reputation as a racist city. Jackson says that the United States is "schizophrenic" on the question of race. Jackson reviews some high and low moments concerning race and the African American community in Boston. Jackson says that King's candidacy is a "high moment." An audience member asks a question about voter turnout.

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