The Rainbow PUSH Coalition was founded by Reverend Jesse Jackson of Chicago, Illinois, in 1996. Jackson formerly worked in Washington, D.C., as a shadow senator. His goal was to uphold civil rights, provide an equal playing field, and promote peace. He did not, however, stop there. He also aspires to do a lot more. For example, he promised to aid in the education of women. So what is his strategy?
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition not only funds research on essential topics like criminal justice but also compiles information on non-violent criminals. For example, the organization recently took part in a federal lawsuit challenging Georgia's "stand your ground" statute. In addition, numerous towns around the nation are receiving assistance from the coalition, which has developed into an international human rights group. They brought a case against the "stand your ground" rule, which has led to several nationwide hearings.
Numerous initiatives and groups make up the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. For example, the International Trade Bureau, established more than 30 years ago, aims to improve the commercial relationships between minorities and women while offering technical support. In 1998, the Wall Street Project was a different initiative. It aims to encourage minority investment in inner cities, minority engagement in business, and the formation of a financial ministry called 1,000 Churches Connected.
The most recent triumph for the coalition followed Jackson's involvement in two significant business transactions. He referred to the SBC and Ameritech combination as "fundamentally defective," and the coalition was against it. The two businesses finally sold a portion of their cellular company to an African-American businessman and donated $500,000 to the Citizenship Education Fund. The Rainbow Push Coalition also played a crucial role in persuading the government to cancel the Citibank-Travelers merger, which several activist organizations opposed.
PUSH was designed to function as a civil economics group initially. It was intended to assist black-owned enterprises, improve job stability, and raise African-Americans' sense of self-worth. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition forced significant corporations to alter their business practices and recruit more African-Americans by using lawsuits. In its early years, it also started PUSH-Excel, a popular program for teens in disadvantaged cities.
Jackson contributed to the development of the Democratic Party's progressive wing. In 1988, he also ran for president and won four caucuses and seven primaries. Although he earned close to seven million votes, Michael Dukakis won the election. The Rainbow Push Coalition significantly restored Aristide to Haiti and enacted a new Middle East policy in 1988. In addition, the coalition created a significant alliance between labor and the working class. There are several ways to honor this significant organization's legacy.
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition's aim is to increase the possibilities available to Black and other underrepresented customers in the digital industry. In addition to recently presenting Metropolitan Calumet Executive Director Audrena Spence with the PUSH Excel Visionary Service Award, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition has sued Georgia's stand-your-ground statute. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition has an influential voice in the technology industry and will keep fighting for workplace justice.