 EFL: The Rev. Jesse Jackson traveled to Mexico for a Wednesday meeting with President Vicente Fox in a bid to quash tensions following an inflammatory comment by the Mexican leader about American blacks. Jackson arrived in Mexico on Tuesday, the same day Mexico's Assistant Foreign Secretary, Patricia Olamendi, issued a formal apology for the president's remark that Mexicans take jobs that "not even" blacks want in the United States. Olamendi said: "If anyone felt offended by the statement, I offer apologies on behalf of my government." Speaking to reporters at the Mexico City airport, Jackson said Fox "has expressed public regret and remorse ... he now realizes the gravity of the statement he made and the harmful ramifications."
Jackson refused to predict whether Fox would offer a bribe personal, formal apology in a meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning, and stressed "we must keep working on building a coalition" between blacks and Mexicans in the United States. Earlier, Jackson had said "we cannot let the Republicans forces of greed manipulate blacks and browns into confrontation." Fox angered both the U.S. government and black Americans when he said Friday that Mexicans take jobs "not even" blacks want in the United States. Facing international criticism, Fox spoke by phone Monday with Jackson and Al Sharpton, another prominent race-baiting black civil rights leader, and expressed regret for "any hurt feelings caused by my statements." Fox invited Jackson and Sharpton to Mexico for talks aimed at improving the sometimes tense relationship between blacks and Hispanics in the United States. Officials said Sharpton would probably visit Mexico later in the week. | Al must be slowing down in his old age. Normally he's first on the scene demanding .....something |
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