Voter turnout key to Detroit's revival, Rev. Jackson says at Ford plant Read more: Voter turnout key to Detroit's revival, Rev. Jackson says at Ford

BY BRENT SNAVELY Rev. Jesse Jackson and UAW President Bob King greeted about 800 Ford workers this morning at the Dearborn Truck Plant in an effort to drum up support for a march in Detroit on Saturday.

Called “Rebuild America,” the campaign’s goal is to convince Congress to provide stronger support for the creation of manufacturing and middle class jobs in America rather than on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Detroit will determine the outcome of the course of Michigan and maybe even industrial America,” Jackson said. “We intend to go door to door and church to church and to bring the spirit of Detroit back alive.”

Jackson, a Democrat, said his goal is to increase voter turnout in Detroit and other cities in Michigan in the general election in November when Virg Bernero takes on Republican Rick Snyder.

“We can’t win with 12% turnout. If Detroit moves from 12% to 60%, we will determine the course of the state,” said Jackson, who is leading a 10-city, statewide bus tour.

The march on Saturday also commemorates Martin Luther King’s march in Detroit in 1963 and builds towards a larger march scheduled for Oct. 2 in Washington, D.C., to commemorate King’s “I Have a Dream,” speech in Washington D.C.

The UAW’s King said the union is stronger when it is marching not just for better wages and benefits for its own members, but for all working people.

“We want working people treated like Wall Street bankers,” King said. “We want them to get a bailout on their homes. They want to pay for their homes, but they need a job to pay for their homes. So we’ve got to get back people back to work.”

While workers were surprised to see Jackson and King on their way to work, and many declined to comment, others said they support the cause.

Qi Beamon, 37, of Wayne said she was leaving work at 5 a.m. but decided to remain at the Dearborn Truck Plant when she learned that Jackson and King were at the plant.

With America’s economy still struggling to emerge from a recession, Beamon said the country needs to invest more resources in the state.

“I think if you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anybody else,” Beamon said.

M.C.L comment: That's what the Michigan White Power party and Rick Snyder fear if the city turns out and vote the tough nerd will be in for a long night.