Jesse Jackson visited Fort Myers 40 years ago, telling residents they needed to stop complaining and vote to change government.
Jackson ― who died Feb. 17 at age 84 ― visited Fort Myers from Oct. 22-23, 1986.
“You’ve got to learn to fight effectively,” Jackson told residents in a News-Press story dated Oct. 24, 1986. He was speaking to residents of an apartment complex.
“Moaning and groaning to each other and cussing and moaning is not effective.”
Jackson in town for Rainbow Coalition
One resident responded to Jackson, saying: “Well, if you had to live out here you’d moan and groan,” said Phyllis Edwards.
She joined others who lived in Sabal Palms Apartments.
“You’re not bad, the system is bad,” Jackson told tenants. “You have to learn how to fight.”
Jackson visited Fort Myers to raise money for his nonprofit Rainbow Coalition. He spoke to Fort Myers High School students, who Jackson chastised. He in particular addressed a rowdy few of the 1,000 students gathered in the school auditorium.
The front page of The News-Press when Jesse Jackson visited Fort Myers Florida, in October 1986.
Jesse Jackson spoke to students
The students chosen to attend from all Lee County high schools were selected because they “knew someone who had been arrested possessing drugs and had knew someone who had ever brought a weapon to school,” the story said.
“You’ve been carrying on all morning, haven’t you,” Jackson said. The story noted that the scolding brought “embarrassed silence to the room.”
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the commencement speaker, challenges the 80 undergraduate and graduate students receiving their degrees during Fisk University graduation ceremony on campus on May 14, 1990.
“You’re a little too hot to hear, a little too tough to listen,” Jackson continued.
“You better hear somebody!” he shouted, as his audience burst into applause.
Jackson also spoke to about 1,200 people at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall and during a $100-a-plate luncheon at Vintage Golf and Country Club south of Fort Myers.
“The blessed of us must save the rest,” he told the lunch group.
Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Contact him at dosborn@usatodayco.com and follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Jesse Jackson visited Fort Myers, Florida in 1986, what he said