Jackson Calls for Unity After Trial : Schools: At Manual Arts High, he tells students ‘you can change American attitudes and American behavior.’

The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Friday pleaded for a peaceful reaction to the pending verdicts in the federal Rodney G. King civil rights trial, urging students at an all-minority high school in South-Central Los Angeles to “turn your pain to power” by following the disciplined, nonviolent methods that produced the gains of the 1960s.

“It’s time to turn to each other and not on each other,” Jackson proclaimed, urging racial unity in a rousing speech to Manual Arts High School’s predominantly African-American and Latino student body.

Imploring students to seek “jobs, health care, education and justice,” Jackson passed out voter registration forms and urged his audience to telephone or write to President Clinton to hold him to his promise of revitalized American cities.

“ You are the key to the new Los Angeles, not 12 jurors. . . . You’re not just our future, you’re our right now,” Jackson said, noting that the youths have the opportunity to prove wrong those in the media, law enforcement and others who expect violence and destruction.

“The question in Los Angeles is whether or not young America will go on a mass suicide drive. . . . I have so much confidence . . . that you will choose life,” Jackson said in a speech saluted with cheers and standing ovations.

“If your mission is to stop the violence and save the children,” Jackson continued, “you can change American attitudes and American behavior.”

He cited the nonviolent acts of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and ‘60s--Rosa Parks refusing to sit in a “colored” section on the bus, sit-ins at lunch counters reserved for whites only, voter registration drives and peace marches--that led to such advances as the abolition of segregated restrooms and broadened voting rights.

He was joined on stage by Stanley K. Sheinbaum, a member of the Los Angeles Police Commission, and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), who distributed a newsletter containing pleas to “build not burn . . . we’ve got to live, not die.”

Jackson’s talk capped two weeks of preparations schools citywide were making in anticipation of the verdicts. Principals throughout the Los Angeles school district have taken security precautions and made plans for announcing the verdicts if they were unveiled during the school day.

Although schools were spared during last year’s rioting, which erupted after a state court acquitted the officers on all but one count in the case, many students took part in the burning and looting of stores in several parts of Los Angeles and neighboring communities.

Under a district directive, schools will not be dismissed early unless an emergency situation exists outside the campus. Children will be allowed to leave early only if picked up by a parent or guardian. At the schools, meetings of staff and student leaders have produced tailor-made plans, especially at high schools.

“We don’t want to put too much emphasis on the announcement,” Dorsey High School Principal Jerelene Wells said. “These students are tired of dealing with the aftermath of the riots. My feeling is this is not going to be like it was last year.”