Rev. Jesse Jackson presses Obama for $2 billion for Chicago
The crisis on the US border and the migration of young children from Central American countries has been in the national news for the past several weeks. President Obama recently went to Texas to meet with Texas Gov. Rick Perry. During this meeting, both Obama and Perry agree that what is happening is a major crisis and they do not disagree philosophically on the issue. To help deal with the this crisis, Obama plans to ask Congress for an estimated $3.7 billion in funds for emergency aid. These funds will include hiring at least 40 new immigration judges, health care, housing and education for the children.
The reason these children are fleeing countries like Honduras and Guatemala is to escape the poverty and violence there. But this past weekend in Chicago, more than 80 people were shot and 12 killed during the Fourth of July holiday spotlighting violence in a city that many have nicknamed Chiraq. The reason for the violent nature of the city is similar to that of those immigrant children trying to leave their countries. Chief among these are poverty and violence, but in Chicago these are not immigrant children trying to escape violence, these are black children who are trapped in violence.
Now Rev. Jesse Jackson has requested that Obama pay attention to the conditions in Chicago. Rev. Jackson is quoted as saying “If we can find $4 billion for those children — and we should — we can find $2 billion for Chicago. There are more children involved, and more have been killed, and more have been shot.”
President Obama is gaining harsh criticism from both the political right and left regarding his domestic policy. But what has enraged many is that Chicago was the root of his rise to the presidency. From starting out as a community activist and rising to U.S. Senator, Obama has walked the streets that have been soaked in blood. “We have a plan for reconstruction in Iraq, Afghanistan and other dangerous zones, but there is no plan for reconstruction in our hometown of Chicago! In the meantime, we live in horror until next Monday’s body count. We deserve better.” Jackson said in statement from the Rainbow Push Coalition
