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Article: Jackson, Meeks, Kelly rock Cook County jail
- Article from:
- Chicago Defender
- Article date:
- December 27, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Chicago Defender Dec 27, 1999. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Jackson, Meeks, Kelly rock Cook County jail
In a spiritual gathering at Cook County Jail, the Revs. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., James Meeks and R&B artist R. Kelly brought not just a message of Christmas blessings and new year cheers, but a challenge to leave crime in the old century.
"There are 80,000 people in this state who are in jail today, 10,000 here at Cook County, 55 percent Black, 35 percent Hispanic and 80 percent people of color.
Of those in jail, 90 percent dropped out of high school or were pushed out, 92 percent are functionally illiterate and 80 percent (are jailed) on a drug-related charge," Jackson said.
"Only one in 10 can get drug treatment, but all 10 can get more drugs, ...