RHYS JONES: Jesse Jackson calls for action

Aug 27 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

Rev Jesse Jackson visits the international slavery museum,albert dock.

REVEREND Jesse Jackson has said people must stop glorifying guns and urged those who know who shot 11-year-old Rhys Jones to turn the killer in.

The world-famous human rights civil rights activist spoke out during a visit to Liverpool’s newly-opened Slavery Museum at the city's Albert Dock.

The Baptist minister said he was moved to learn of the tragic death, and said those who knew who killed him and had not yet come forward were com- plicit in the murder.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson struggled against racial prejudice and said it was now saddening to see youth culture promoting violence through music and movies.

He called for governments to halt the glamorisation of violence within their own policy, and said: “We must stop promoting guns in movies and music, videos and on TV. But it doesn't just end there – govern- ment policy is glorifying violence every day through senseless wars.

"It has become clear that the problem no longer lies within the USA. it has spread to the UK with harsh con-sequences.

"I have been saddened to hear of the tragic death of the 11-year-old boy in Liverpool, and it further highlights the problem of how guns are glorified in youth culture. Also, we have an issue with inner cities lacking job opportunities, and guns and drugs stepping into the void."