Rev. Jackson hints legal challenge to Fla vote

Wednesday, 8 November 2000 15:25 (ET)

Rev. Jackson hints legal challenge to Fla vote By PAUL SINGER

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 8 (UPI) - Rev. Jesse Jackson Wednesday called for a thorough investigation of the voting process in Florida and suggested black leaders may initiate legal action to challenge "patterns of irregularities" that appeared to interfere with a full accounting of African-American voters.

Jackson was on his way to Florida to meet African-American leaders to consider their legal options. He said a legal challenge may be necessary.

Jackson told reporters outside the Loews Hotel where he and the rest of Vice President Gore's party is staying that black leaders are demanding a recount by hand, not by machine, and a thorough investigation into reported "acts of irregularity and/or intimidation."

"Some people were complaining that they pulled down the lever for Gore but it came up for Buchanan. That was one inconsistency," Jackson said. "There were other cases of people standing on long lines and they were told that there are no more ballots. Others standing in long lines were told that the polls were closed."

These "patterns of irregularities" appeared "particularly in the African American community," Jackson alleged.

"This is a replay of Selma, Alabama all over again," Jackson argued, referring to the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s. "This issue is about disenfranchised people having their vote count ... who want to make a statement in our democracy. Because of these irregularities, their statement has not been recorded and the election is not over until their statement is recorded."

Asked whether it is likely that the black leaders will file a legal challenge to the state vote, Jackson said, "I'm inclined to say so because we were violated with our rights to vote," but he added, "I do not know if the state Democratic Party deems it necessary to take legal action ... but certainly they will be advised that if there is any resistance to a fair count there must be legal action."

Jackson called for the "full cooperation of the governor" -- Jeb Bush, brother of Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush -- "because it is on his watch. It does not suggest that he did anything illegal, but it is on his watch and therefore he must assume the responsibility to encourage the process" of investigating all complaints.

-- (bush&kkk@running.florida), November 09, 2000

Answers

Well, I agree with one thing. I thin they SHOULD count all those 6 million votes by hand, not machine. I do not trust the machines. Some may have y2k bugs.

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), November 09, 2000.

Civil rights whore.

Get a life JJ.

-- just (completley@sickofthisshit.com), November 09, 2000.

That dude makes me want to PUKE!!!! Ward can't stand him either.

-- Mrs. Cleaver (Mrs. Cleaver@LITBBB.vcom), November 09, 2000.

Tito, LaToya, Janet and Michael should have let him sing more and he never would have left the band.

-- QuietMan (quietjohn2k@hotmail.com), November 09, 2000.