Court Rules Jesse Jackson Must Face Civil Trial for Assault and Civil
Rights Violations.

How Ironic, Civil rights Leader?

Judicial Watch represents Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson in claims against

(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that
investigates and prosecutes corruption, today announced that on January
17, 2006, Jesse Lee Peterson, et al., v. Jesse Jackson, et al. (BC
266505) will go to trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court after a
ruling last week by Judge George H. Wu. Judicial Watch filed the
lawsuit against Jackson, his son Jonathan, and others on behalf of Rev.
Jesse Lee Peterson, who was the victim of a physical and verbal assault
at an event hosted by Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and Toyota Motor
Sales, U.S.A., Inc. in December 2001. Rev. Peterson is an ordained
minister, who has dedicated his life to working with underprivileged
black youth and men in our society.

The Jacksons and the Rainbow/PUSH coalition, who had sought to have the
case dismissed, will now face multiple civil charges, including:
Assault, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and a California
Civil Rights Claim. Jonathan Jackson also will face the additional
charges of Battery and False Imprisonment.

Judicial Watch's lawsuit stems from a public meeting held in Los
Angeles, California on December 10, 2001 to discuss participation in
Toyota's "21st Century Diversity Strategy," which had been announced
after Jackson and Rainbow/PUSH threatened to boycott Toyota. After
remarks from Jackson and Toyota representative Irving Miller, the
meeting was opened up to questions from the audience. Rev. Peterson
asked Miller if black Republicans and conservative groups like his
organization, Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND), would
have to go through Rev. Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH in order to participate
in the Toyota program.

Jackson told the crowd, "And the issue, for the record.is not
conservative or liberal. The issue is certain parasites trying to pick
up fruit from trees they didn't shake." Rev. Peterson testified that
after the "parasite" comment, the crowd became "more hostile..Some of
the words I can't even mention here."

Within minutes following adjournment of the meeting, Jonathan Jackson
struck Rev. Peterson and Rev. Peterson was physically threatened and
verbally assaulted by both Jesse Jackson and Jonathan Jackson. Incited
by Jackson's earlier remarks, an angry crowd gathered, cursing, shoving
and encircling Rev. Peterson and one of his associates. "I feared for
my life," said Peterson.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said, "Jesse Jackson attempted to
use every legal trick at his disposal to have this case dismissed, and
he failed. This trial is a major step in holding Jackson accountable
for his actions."

"I'm pleased the court ruled in our favor," said Reverend Peterson. "I
am looking forward to taking my case to court and to forcing Jesse
Jackson to answer for his actions."