Jesse Jackson Visits Terri Schiavo's Hospice, Backs Schindlers
Steven Ertelt / LifeNews.com Editor / March 29, 2005

Pinellas Park, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Longtime civil rights activist and former presidential candidate, Rev. Jesse Jackson, made his first public foray into the debate surrounding Terri Schiavo. He visited Terri's hospice on Tuesday and said he supported Terri's parents' efforts to stop her painful starvation death.

"I feel so passionate about this injustice being done, how unnecessary it is to deny her a feeding tube, water, not even ice to be used for her parched lips," Jackson said. "This is a moral issue and it transcends politics and family disputes."

"While the law is important, the law must be tempered with mercy to have justice. We ask for justice today," he said.

Jackson called what is happening to Terri a "violent" execution and a "great moral and ethical crisis that we should address."

"This woman's being starved and dehydrated to death," he complained. "Eleven days -- no food and no water. This is not right."

"She is not brain dead," Jackson noted. "She is brain impaired. All her vital signs are working."

"And to cut off her food and water his heartless," he explained.

Jackson's remarks drew praise from pro-life groups backing the Schindlers.

"There is nothing for Jesse Jackson to gain here except respect for having done the right thing," said Reverend Rob Schenck of the National Clergy Council.

"This is a rare expression of moral courage from a partisan and we applaud him heartily for it. We pray that it is taken seriously and acted upon urgently by all those with the power to save Terri's life," Schenck added.

This is the second time Jackson has commented on the controversial situation.

"I think the feeding tube should be reinstated," he previously said. "It's not right to starve her to death. That's not right ethically."

Talking about Terri's medical condition, Jackson commented, "But you know she is brain impaired, she is not brain-dead. And right now they're starving her to death. They're dehydrating her to death, and that raises profound ethical questions."

Bob and Mary Schindler invited Jackson, president of the RainbowPUSH Coalition, to talk and pray with them outside of Woodside Hospice, where Terri lives.