1988 Democratic National Convention : Protesters Seek Black Equality

Hundreds of protesters led by Atlanta City Councilman Hosea Williams and Rep. Gus Savage of Illinois marched Monday evening from the white marble crypt of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the Omni convention hall, calling on the Rev. Jesse Jackson to walk out if he is not placed on the ticket.

The march, which Williams said was called to demand a program that would give blacks equality in the Democratic Party, was made up of three principal groups: Williams’ own local followers, backers of the third-party presidential candidacy of Lenora Fulani and supporters of Tawana Brawley, the black New York teen-ager enmeshed in a controversial case of alleged rape at the hands of whites.

As the procession left the King crypt, the marchers chanted, “We’re fired up, we won’t take it no more,” and bore aloft banners and placards with such slogans as “Jesse, we’re with you in ‘88--America is still racist.”

“They not only slapped Jesse down but they reached over and got a conservative in order to cloak Reagan Democrats,” Williams said.

Williams opened with the chant: “I am somebody. Jesse Jackson is our President.” Then he led the marchers and a crowd of spectators in the singing of the vintage civil rights song: “Ain’t gonna let nobody turn us round.”