Jesse Jackson Visits Terri Schiavo’s Hospice, Backs Schindlers

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Mar 29, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Jesse Jackson Visits Terri Schiavo’s Hospice, Backs Schindlers Email this article
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by 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.

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.

Related news stories:

Terri Schiavo’s Parents’ Last Motion on Terri Saying "I Want to Live"

Terri Schiavo Case Reveals How We Treated Disabled Americans

Neurologists: Terri Schiavo Not in Persistent Vegetative State

Terri Schiavo’s Hospice Nurses Want Her to Die, Dissenter Fired

Related web sites:
Terri Schiavo’s parents – https://www.terrisfight.org