Rainbow PUSH Holds Rally In Support Of JRW Players
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Supporters of the Jackie Robinson West Little League team rallied around the kids Saturday at the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition following this week's decision to strip the team of its national championship title over a finding that the team's leaders broke the rules.
"These kids are young, talented and Black and we're going to uphold them," said State Sen. Jacqueline Collins.
WBBM's Mike Krauser reports the rally was more about supporting the kids on the Jackie Robinson West team than the racially-charged rhetoric we've heard in recent days. Three JRW players shared the stage with Rev. Jesse Jackson, his son Jonathan and St. Sabina Pastor Fr. Michael Pfleger.
Asked what the outpouring of support means to him, JRW player Brandon Green said, "It shows that we can come together as a community and support one another."
"I had no doubt, that my community would be here to support this injustice that has happened to 13 year-old African-American children in the city of Chicago," said Venisa Green, Brandon's mother. "I want Brandon to know, that when injustice is done, it just doesn't impact you, it impacts an entire nation and that's why we will continue to fight.
Rev. Jackson said the kids, "...are more than champions, they're heroes."
He asked that people write letters and send emails to Little League International headquarters.
"We may have to get some buses and go up to Pennsylvania to have a prayer meeting making a moral, non-violent appeal to sustain the trophies our children have already won," Jackson said.
He suggested there be a statue honoring the kids and college scholarships for each of them.