Jesse Jackson Comes Down On Mitsubishi Motors World Wide

07/22/96

Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson has a vendetta regarding the auto industry, and Mitsubishi is his number one target. As reported here two weeks ago Mitsubishi's Normal, Ill assembly plant has been under fire from the federal government, activists, and womens rights groups over charges of sexual harassment. Jackson's National Rainbow Coalition climbed on the bandwagon and threatened to start a movement to boycott Mitsubishi dealers for harassment and racial discrimination, stating it was deplorable that Mitsu does not have more black dealers. Jackson attacked the Japanese automaker, stating they had only 11 Latinos and African Americans among their 505 dealers. Although Mitsu recently hired Gloria Davis, an African-American, to head up a new department of opportunity and to set up company-wide training programs aimed at preventing sexual misconduct, Jackson wasn't satisfied. In their own defense against Jacksons argument about minority dealers, Mitsubishi officials pointed out that they have the second best record on women and minority owners in the U.S. . . . behind Ford. Next Jackson is going after Honda for "gross insensitivity" for awarding dealerships to minorities.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel