Jesse Jackson : Michael Jackson Jury can't do justice
/The Rev. Jesse Jackson said yesterday
that he doubts Michael Jackson can get a fair trial without a single
African-American on the jury that will judge him. "He deserves a fair
trial and should have a jury of his peers," the civil rights leader
told the television show "Extra." "That jury does not have one
African-American, as if we didn't have the right to vote. That's not
true, and that's not fair!" said the activist. The California jury
seated for the superstar entertainer's pedophile trial is composed of
seven whites, four Hispanics and one Asian. Only one of the alternate
jurors is black, a 19-year-old flower deliveryman. There were only
about a half-dozen blacks in the initial 243 potential jurors pooled
from Santa Barbara County, where African-Americans make up 2% of the
population. One black potential juror asked to be excused for hardship
reasons. Two others selected for the final pool were kicked off,
despite objections from the defense, by peremptory challenges exercised
by the prosecution. A 51-year-old black woman who was being considered
as an alternate was excused after she complained about the lack of
diversity in the jury pool. "Just look around us. A jury of his peers
would be people of his age and people of color, mixed diversity," the
woman said. "How diverse is this jury looking to you right now?" [more]
- Poll: Majority of white Americans Say Charges Against Michael Jackson Are True [more]
