Rev. Jesse Jackson: 'Time for Justice, Healing'

The scene of last week's fatal shooting was transformed today from a place of tragedy and disbelief to a place of inspiration as hundreds of clergy, members of their congregations and community leaders gathered to hear the Rev. Jesse Jackson call for peace, justice and unity in a time of crisis.

A week ago today, yellow police tape surrounded the Kingdom Authority International Ministries Church and House of Grace Daycare and Preschool.

A man inside was dead, police said, the victim of a shooting by two officers. A crowd gathered outside the perimeter. Some were parents, frantic over the safety of their children. Some were day care employees, teary-eyed and hysterical over what they saw inside the building's big brick walls before being ushered out by police. Some were friends and relatives of the man, outraged and confused over what they believe to be the senseless killing of an unarmed 23-year-old man by two white officers.

The same relatives sat humbly and stoicly in the front row of the church Sunday afternoon as the famed civil rights activist took the podium and delivered a message hope and unity for a city in crisis and a demand for an independent federal investigation into the shooting. 

"Today, we have the awesome task to turn a crisis into an opportunity," Jackson said. "This violent death has mobilized us, but life must sustain us. ... In Rockford today, it's a time for healing. It's a time for justice and healing."

Jackson's visit to Rockford in the wake of Mark Anthony Barmore's fatal shooting and growing racial tensions had been rumored for a week. It became a reality today. It would have been sooner, Jackson said, had he not had to attend the funeral services for Senator Edward Kennedy in Boston.

The 67-year-old former presidential candidate and Baptist preacher from Chicago addressed two overflowing churches, paid his respects and viewed Barmore's body, and met privately with area pastors and city leaders.

"It was a horror story," Jackson said of the tale of the shooting as conveyed to him by eyewitnesses Sheila Brown, the church pastor's wife and day care director, and Marissa Brown, her 17-year-old daughter. Police say Barmore scuffled with one of the officers and tried to grab the officer's gun. The Browns contend there was no struggle and that Barmore, who ran into the church to get away from police, emerged from a basement closet with his head down and his hands up when officers shot him. 

While police have said that both officers fired their weapons, officials have not disclosed how many times they fired or how many times Barmore was shot.

It was four, Jackson said.

Jackson shared the information with worshippers and media today after viewing Barmore's body at the Collins & Stone Funeral Home, his first stop in town. Barmore was shot once across the neck, a grazing wound, and three times in the back, Jackson said, something corroborated by the Browns' eyewitness accounts.

"They did see the three times in the back," he said.

Jackson plans to return Wednesday to visit schools during the day and tentatively participate in a town-hall meeting in the evening and Thursday to attend funeral services for Barmore. He said he plans to return until justice is served.

Rousing hymns of praise filled the air at Faith Walker's Assembly Sunday morning. The cries of "hallelujah" and "praise Jesus" echoed across the sanctuary where members of the largely black congregation sat shoulder to shoulder awaiting Jackson's arrival.

"Rev. Jackson brings hope to people," said Jeff Pearson, a member of the Liberty Baptist Church greeting ministry. "He'll be inspiring people that justice will be served. Rev. Jackson is a big shot. Right now there's a lot of stuff in the air, and it's important for people to know we are being heard."

Pearson was one of several people who waited outside the church to witness Jackson's arrival as the church service went on inside.

"This is a hard time," said Pastor Anthony Wilson of Greater Faith Ministries. "We are trying to get some unity and togetherness. We want to pray for the city as a whole."

Jackson told the 250-some people at the church that he wanted to help the community "prepare a longer term agenda" to address last week's shooting, which took place in front of the Browns and a group of toddlers, whose only exit from the room where police briefly stood-off with Barmore was blocked by the officers.

"This is not a matter of black and white. It's a matter of wrong and right," Jackson said. "We don't need retribution. We don't need retaliation. This is not about an eye for an eye. We want justice. ... We intend to get that."

Jackson said he planned to meet with area leaders until that occurs.

Selena Bogan, 41, of Rockford said she wants the truth.

"I think the truth needs to come out," Bogan said. "If you weren't there, you don't know what happened. And what's the solution to all this? I'd like to know."

As the church emptied and members of the media swarmed around Jackson, Barmore's father, Anthony Stevens, quietly exited through a side door.

"It's tremendous," Stevens said. "I am touched deeply by the things he said. I think the city needed this. I think it will open a lot of doors. ... I feel confident that justice will be done." 

Local work

By 3 p.m., every seat at Kingdom Authority International Ministries Church was filled, including the balcony. Leaders from retired Ald. Victory Bell to Winnebago County Board member George Anne Duckett sat on stage with religious leaders.

Jackson delivered a similar message to the afternoon crowd before heading to City Hall for a meeting with Mayor Larry Morrissey and police Chief Chet Epperson. 

"We all want healing, but take the glass -- take the injustice -- out of the wound," Jackson told the audience of several hundred. 

He questioned the racial makeup the city's police department, fire department, school district and judicial system. 

"The 20 percent African-American population across the city should be reflected in that" Jackson said. The Rockford Police Department is 10 percent black.

He called for people to rise above the tragedy and tension, to tear down walls of divisiveness and build bridges of understanding.

"We as people must rise from the mud of racial battleground to moral higher ground," Jackson said. "We must rise from racial battleground to economic common ground."

Duckett told the audience to be ready to hear from her about organizing a Rockford chapter of Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, a nonprofit that fights for social justice and civil rights.

"This is a good sign," Duckett said, commenting on the racially mixed crowd at the church.

"We had a big loss this week and that loss was Senator Kennedy. It's a big loss. We can't let this man die in vain. He worked hard for us.

"It's time to step up. To man up. To woman up. Not to cause problems or to cause disruption, just to bring equality and fairness to Rockford," she said. "It's time we faced this racial problem that we have in this community."