Jesse Jackson: Phil Robertson’s Comments ‘More Offensive’ Than Rosa Parks Bus Driver

Lest you thought the battle over Phil Robertson’s comments about gays and Jim Crow-era relations might be calming—or even taking Christmas Day off—Reverend Jesse Jackson has waded in, and brought the controversy’s second Rosa Parks reference to boot.

“These statements uttered by Robertson are more offensive than the bus driver in Montgomery, Alabama, more than 59 years ago,” Jackson said in a press release. “At least the bus driver, who ordered Rosa Parks to surrender her seat to a white person, was following state law. Robertson’s statements were uttered freely and openly without cover of the law, within a context of what he seemed to believe was ‘white privilege.’”

RELATED: RNC’s Rosa Parks Tweet Backfires, Starts Ironic Hashtag

An Illinois congressional candidate compared Robertson favorably to Parks earlier in the week.

In the statement Jackson demanded meetings with A&E, which suspended Robertson indefinitely, and Cracker Barrel, which momentarily pulled Duck Dynasty products from its shelves before replacing them following a public outcry. He also joined GLAAD and NOW in calling for Robertson’s suspension to continued until the issue is resolved.

[h/t Chicago Tribune]

[Image via A&E]

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