Jackson vows to continue fight for black Chicago contractor

Jet, March 3, 1997

Rev. Jesse Jackson recently spent a night in jail after being charged with disorderly conduct for a protest of the firing of a Black subcontractor working on a construction project in Chicago.

Jackson, president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, was arrested when he tried to block access to a construction site supervised by a White-owned company that ended a contract with the Black trucking company, Carter's Excavating and Grading. The trucking company was the main subcontractor on a $43.7 million underground parking garage project at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

Jackson, who entered and left court in handcuffs, turned down a judge's offer to go free on his own recognizance and was taken to Cook County Jail, where he spent the night.

"We fight for workers seeking an honorable day of work," Jackson told Cook County Judge Cornelius E. Toole. "I am sacrificing my liberty for their freedom to get attention from the courts, the city, the county and the state."

Jackson is protesting a decision by Paul H. Schwendener Inc.--the general contractor working on the underground parking garage project--to end its subcontract with Carter's Excavating and Grading.

Company President Michael Schwendener denied a racial motive in ending the subcontract and said Carter's Excavating was not performing properly.

Willie H. Carter, owner of Carter's Excavating and Grading, denies the claim.

Jackson, who has promised to continue to fight for the contractor, said at Chicago's Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, "These are basic, hardworking men and women who work by the sweat of their brow. They are fighting for the right to haul garbage, rocks and debris," he said.

At JET press time, work had stopped at the museum project in response to Jackson's protests.

Jackson also met with representatives of both companies. He said that the reason for the contractor's dismissal could only be determined if Schwendener "opened its books."

Jackson also said Carter's employees were owed thousands of dollars on the work that has already been completed.