Rev. Jackson hints legal challenge to Fla vote

http://www.vny.com/cf/News/upidetail.cfm?QID=135220

Rev. Jackson hints legal challenge to Fla vote
Wednesday, 8 November 2000 15:25 (ET)

Rev. Jackson hints legal challenge to Fla vote
By PAUL SINGER

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 8 (UPI) - Rev. Jesse Jackson Wednesday called for a
thorough investigation of the voting process in Florida and suggested black
leaders may initiate legal action to challenge "patterns of irregularities"
that appeared to interfere with a full accounting of African-American

voters.

Jackson was on his way to Florida to meet African-American leaders to
consider their legal options. He said a legal challenge may be necessary.

Jackson told reporters outside the Loews Hotel where he and the rest of
Vice President Gore's party is staying that black leaders are demanding a
recount by hand, not by machine, and a thorough investigation into reported
"acts of irregularity and/or intimidation."

"Some people were complaining that they pulled down the lever for Gore but
it came up for Buchanan. That was one inconsistency," Jackson said. "There
were other cases of people standing on long lines and they were told that
there are no more ballots. Others standing in long lines were told that the
polls were closed."

These "patterns of irregularities" appeared "particularly in the African
American community," Jackson alleged.

"This is a replay of Selma, Alabama all over again," Jackson argued,
referring to the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s. "This issue
is about disenfranchised people having their vote count ... who want to make
a statement in our democracy. Because of these irregularities, their
statement has not been recorded and the election is not over until their
statement is recorded."

Asked whether it is likely that the black leaders will file a legal
challenge to the state vote, Jackson said, "I'm inclined to say so because
we were violated with our rights to vote," but he added, "I do not know if
the state Democratic Party deems it necessary to take legal action ... but
certainly they will be advised that if there is any resistance to a fair
count there must be legal action."

Jackson called for the "full cooperation of the governor" -- Jeb Bush,
brother of Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush -- "because it
is on his watch. It does not suggest that he did anything illegal, but it is
on his watch and therefore he must assume the responsibility to encourage
the process" of investigating all complaints.