Jesse Jackson to be in Chattanooga Friday to promote peace ahead of neo-Nazi rally

photo Rev. Jesse Jackson will be coming to Chattanooga on Friday to promote peace and unity throughout the city at a rally - just a day before one of the most prominent Neo-Nazis groups in the nation is expected to rally at Hamilton County Courthouse.

Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson will be coming to Chattanooga Friday to promote peace and unity throughout the city at a rally - just a day before one of the most prominent neo-Nazi groups in the nation is expected to rally at Hamilton County Courthouse.

"We don't want any negativity in our city," said Pastor Kevin Adams of Olivet Baptist Church, who was riding in a car with Jackson this morning in Georgia.

Adams and Jackson reached out to each other after news broke that the Nationalist Socialist Movement will hold its 40th anniversary meeting in the Scenic City this weekend.

Adams said because Jackson is a national figure, he hopes his presence here will send a positive message to counter what's expected to be hateful comments spewed the following day. Jackson will also bring members from his Chicago-based organization Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization that advocates for social change.

Cedric Pendleton, who plays Keenan on Tyler Perry's House of Payne, is also expected to attend the rally on Friday.

The rally is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Olivet Baptist Church, 740 East Martin Luther King Blvd.

Aside from sending messages of peace, Adams said the rally will also focus on curbing gang violence and getting out the vote.

Read more in tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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