PUSH Honors Rush for 40 Years of Public Service
by Lesley R. Chinn
About four decades ago, Bobby L. Rush stood before a packed audience at PUSH where he turned himself into Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in an effort to coordinate his compliance to police questioning after officers acted on a questionable arrest warrant against Rush shortly after assassination of his Black Panther colleagues Fred Hampton and Mark Clark.
This past Saturday, Congressman Rush stood on the same stage where PUSH recognized him for his 40 years of public service just days after he celebrated his 63rd birthday. Rush was showered with numerous honors from Jackson along with Congressman Danny K. Davis who presented his colleague with a plaque on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus.
As a Black Panther member, Rush helped establish a childrens free breakfast program and developed the nations first mass sickle cell anemia testing program. In addition, the young activist also worked to register voters, advocate against poor housing conditions and police misconduct.
Since his former days as a Black Panther, Rush has never stopped fighting for Black people even as a 2nd Ward Alderman and Congressman of the 1st Congressional District where he has become a strong advocate against gun control while fighting for issues concerning social justice and small businesses.
While recalling the moment when Hampton and Clark were killed, the aftermath and controversy surrounding the tragedies, Rush thanked Jackson for the honor while calling PUSH one of the nations most respectable social justice organizations. Besides Rushs family, staff from Chicago and Washington, D.C., Aldermen Freddrenna Lyle (6) and Pat Dowell (3); Bishop Henry L. Williamson Sr., presiding prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District; Rev. Stephen Thurston Sr., president of the National Baptist Convention of America; and State Rep. Connie Howard, a Democratic State Central Committeewoman for the 1st Congressional District of Illinois, also joined him onstage during his honor.
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