Christopher Lockridge 
Rainbow Push recently attacked Trump and the problems he’s caused during the first five-plus months of his second term as president. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition 2025 People’s Conference: A Call to Action kicked off weeks and it was an amazing start.
The conference started at 11am with a luncheon that carried the theme of “Rebuilding America.” Some of the faith leader representatives were Elder James Moody, Rev. J. Stephen Thurston, Rev. Marshall Hatch, Rev. Ciera Bates Chamberlain, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss II, Rev. Michael Eaddy, and Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli. Gaines-Cirelli from Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC, spoke about ICE and uniting with one another. Gaines-Cirelli stated that this was a moment in time when Democrats and Republicans were coming together to make a change. “We are fighting for basic needs deportation, the school systems, which are now gone, and many other factors.” Thurston chimed in and spoke about the issue as well stating, “It’s time we step and fight for our right. We will not let someone who is not qualified take over our lives. How can we trust someone with a felony to run the United States?”
Yusuf Jackson, the son of Jesse Jackson, and Rev. Jamal Bryant, who is responsible for leading the boycott against Target and Dollar General, also spoke about Trump stating “We will not let Trump destroy our leaders like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. We will continue to fight for African American rights. For Activist Rev. Jesse Jackson these times are like déjà vu for him. Jesse Jackson, now 83, has spent the majority of his life fighting for the rights of the people, only for it to feel like we are back at square one.
After the luncheon, attendees proceeded to Target on State Street in Chicago where many were present to protest the DEI change they folded to. Bryant spoke about how Target and Dollar General’s sells and stocks have plunged dramatically. Bryant stated that four years ago Target promised to give $20 million to the African American community by June 30th 2025, and once Trump dismissed the DEI program they pulled back their offer.
The protest concluded around 5:00 pm. Afterwards, everyone met at Fellowship Church for worship. The speakers and performers for the service were Comedian Marcus D. Wiley, Pastor Darius Brooks and Minister/Musician Johari McGhee. We also got a special performance by Grammy Award winning gospel singer Jekalyn Carr who touched everyone’s spirit with her music. And another major highlight of the evening was when Bryant blessed six youth, ages 18-22, with a scholarship to an HBCU.
The 2025 People’s Conferences will definitely go down as a memorable event.
By Christopher Lockridge
Instagram: Lockotb
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