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Jesse Jackson tour comes to Manchester

28/08/2007

Civil rights campaigner and Baptist minister the Reverend Jesse Jackson visited Manchester at the weekend as part of a tour of Britain's major cities.

Rev Jackson is visiting Manchester to promote the launch of Equanomics UK, an initiative of the 1990 Trust, which focuses on racial justice through economic equality.

His visit to Britain comes as the country celebrates the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery - an 'industry' which he believes contributed to the UK's economic wealth and power.

The lord mayor of Manchester, councillor Glynn Evans, said: "It is truly an honour to extend this invitation to one of the greatest civil rights leaders in the world.

"We are delighted that [Rev Jackson] is visiting Manchester and hope to make it an occasion to remember and to celebrate his work."

The veteran left-winger, who worked alongside equal rights champion Martin Luther King in the 1960s, also spoke of the need to staunch the flow of guns into Manchester and other big cities.

"We need to know where the guns are coming from [...] and who is profiting from them. That is critical to security and stability," he said.

The Manchester visit was arranged by Operation Manchester Black Vote and local church groups.