Statement from Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.: News Media Should Not Surrender to President’s Phony “Emergency”

Today on behalf of the Rainbow Push Coalition, Rev. Jesse Jackson released a statement urging media not to respond to the national address of Pres. Donald Trump as if it is an emergency.

A statement by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.

President Donald Trump’s address to the nation tonight will be little more than a political commercial. The news media should not surrender to his phony “emergency.”

There is no crisis at the southern border. No caravans, trying to sneak in; no terrorists coming across in mass numbers. The greatest number of undocumented immigrants in the United States are those who have overstayed their visas after coming here legally by plane.

He has shutdown the government for 18 days – and counting – over a broken and ridiculous campaign promise to build an expensive and unnecessary wall, a wall for which he assured the nation Mexico would pay.

It is a contradiction for the media to say this President lies the most and should be trusted the least and then give him so much time for his dangerous, xenophobic, petulant posturing that continues to erode our standing in the world. The media should first review what he says and then make a judgement whether it is accurate and truthful enough to warrant airtime.

Based on his track record, the odds are overwhelming that tonight’s performance will be more of the same when it comes to immigration and the border – a word salad of nonsense.