Jesse Jackson Protests Racist Traffic Signals

CHICAGO - Feb. 25, 2008 (The Bench) - Civil rights spokesman Rev. Jesse Jackson today lambasted the City of Chicago for it's "racist pedestrian signals."

"Why must we wait for a little white man to give us permission to walk?" asked Jackson. He stood at a crosswalk in Chicago's "Loop" business district and pointed across the street.

"Looka that," he said, "a little white guy tellin' me that I can walk. I resent that. I am somebody, not a nobody. I walk the walk. Can that little white man?" Jackson stepped into the street and crossed at a leisurely pace, talking to reporters as he moved to the other side.

"I call on all people to boycott these racist traffic signals," Jackson said. "Do not cross the street when he tell you to. Jus' stan' there. Don't cross til you see a little black man tell you to."

Phil Kosluzkzkchizyvk, a spokesman for the City of Chicago's Pedestrian Safety Office, said he did not understand Jackson's complaint.

"Can't he see that in fact it is a little black man outlined in white?" Kosluzkzkchizyvk asked. "We're very sensitive to this issue. In fact, we are actually experimenting with a black light crossing signal. It could be out in early 2009 if all goes as planned."