Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson was in Kansas City Tuesday morning, talking to students at Central Academy of Excellence.
He encourage students to stay involved and even got a few kids to register to vote in the upcoming election.
Jackson stressed the importance of education, in a community where students face more obstacles, and a culture where athletics take priority.
"In this state, it is about 8 percent percent African-American. And the University of Missouri at the football field is around 75 percent. We cannot go from picking cotton balls to picking up footballs, we must pursue academics with the same vigor that we pursue athletics," Jackson said.
We asked how he would encourage students to stay away from all the violence in Kansas City. He said violence and lack of education stems from poverty, and it's up to leaders to change that.
"If you want to wipe out poverty, then afford us Medicaid and afford livable wages and make temporary jobs more permanent jobs. And on the other hand make education affordable. We have the capacity we have the priority to provide every graduate a scholarship , it's an investment in our future with great returns," Jackson said.
He answered other media questions about issues in the country, like race relations and guns.
When asked if the Black Lives Matter movement is doing good or is divisive, he said the movement is liberating. He touched on assault weapons, saying they should be banned because police can't protect themselves from the public who uses them to kill.
