Shareholders Take On Jesse Jackson

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

A shareholder group is gaining momentum in its efforts to pressure companies to disclose charitable giving -- with donations linked to the Rev. Jesse Jackson its target.

The National Legal and Policy Center has stepped up efforts to require corporations to disclose more details about their donations. The goal is to pressure companies to divest from Jackson-led efforts, including the Rainbow/PUSH Citizen Education Fund, which in 2001 provided payments to Jackson's former mistress.

The Church Falls, Va.-based non-profit group hit two shareholders meetings this week -- Boeing on Monday and PepsiCo Inc. on Wednesday.

"Many shareholders would certainly object to their money going to a controversial and divisive figure like Jesse Jackson," said Peter Flaherty, NLPC president. "Shareholders deserve to know where their money is going and for what purpose, especially if it is directly contrary to their interests as shareholders."

It may become a little more difficult for Jesse Jackson to extract money from corporate America.