Jesse Jackson Receives President Medal of Freedom in 2000

[00:00:05] You are now about to witness one of the [00:00:07] best things about this ceremony. [00:00:10] For a change, I don't have to follow [00:00:11] Jesse Jackson. [00:00:20] But the truth is, [00:00:23] America has followed Reverend Jackson [00:00:26] as he marched with Dr. King walked the [00:00:28] pickets lines, ran for our nation's [00:00:30] highest office, [00:00:32] instilling hope and inspiring millions, [00:00:38] beginning with his own remarkable [00:00:40] family. [00:00:42] From the streets of Watts to the hollows [00:00:44] of Appalachia, [00:00:46] as my special envoy to Africa, and the [00:00:49] leader of Rainbow Push, he has walked [00:00:52] the walk of freedom. [00:00:55] When I think of rainbow push, I think of [00:00:57] two things. [00:01:00] Rainbow means we've all got a place at [00:01:02] the table. [00:01:04] Push is what Jesse does when he thinks [00:01:07] I'm not doing right. [00:01:12] He has used his legendary prowess at a [00:01:16] at persuading people to do things they [00:01:18] are otherwise disincclined to do [00:01:21] to free innocents imprisoned around the [00:01:24] world, [00:01:25] including American servicemen from [00:01:29] the Middle East to the Balkans. [00:01:32] With his Wall Street project, he is [00:01:34] forging the next frontier of freedom, [00:01:36] economic freedom, reminding us that when [00:01:39] we limit opportunities for some [00:01:41] Americans, we limit possibilities for [00:01:43] all Americans. [00:01:46] His work for years has been an [00:01:47] inspiration to the new markets [00:01:49] initiative that I have undertaken along [00:01:51] with the Republican and Democratic [00:01:53] leaders of the House and Senate. And [00:01:56] when it becomes law, it will be in no [00:01:58] small measure the result of the powerful [00:02:01] example that he has set year after year. [00:02:06] Dr. King said, "Human progress never [00:02:08] rolls on the wheels of inevitability. [00:02:10] It comes through the tireless efforts of [00:02:12] those willing to be co-workers with [00:02:14] God." [00:02:16] The cause of justice has no greater [00:02:18] coworker than Jesse Jackson. [00:02:21] It's hard to imagine how we could have [00:02:23] come as far as we have without the [00:02:26] creative power, [00:02:28] the keen intellect, [00:02:31] the loving heart, and the relentless [00:02:34] passion of Jesse Lewis Jackson. [00:02:38] And God isn't done with him yet. [00:02:42] Commander, [00:02:44] read the citation. [00:02:46] Jesse Jackson has long been a powerful [00:02:49] voice in the struggle for civil rights, [00:02:51] economic opportunity, and social justice [00:02:53] across America and around the globe. [00:02:57] Minister and stirring orator, he has [00:02:59] preached the gospel of hope, unity, and [00:03:02] responsibility and has helped establish [00:03:04] common ground across lines of race, [00:03:06] class, gender, nationality, and faith. [00:03:11] As founder and president of the Rainbow [00:03:13] Push Coalition and the Wall Street [00:03:15] Project, he has worked hard to expand [00:03:17] opportunity through education and [00:03:19] employment. A tireless advocate for [00:03:21] peace, international understanding, and [00:03:24] human dignity, Jesse Jack has kept alive [00:03:26] the promise of a better world for people [00:03:29] everywhere. [00:03:34] [applause] [00:03:42] >> [applause] [00:03:49] [applause] [00:03:57] [applause] [00:04:04] >> as