Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks at Bring Back Our Girls rally
PALO ALTO, Calif. (KGO) -- Dozens of people gathered in Palo Alto Monday night to bring attention to the Nigerian girls kidnapped by a militant group last month. A well-known Civil Rights activist made a surprise visit.
In the heart of Downtown Palo Alto, the sound of drums called the community together. Some even brought their children.
"It's a very important thing for them to learn that when something evil is happening in the world that we're called to respond," San Mateo resident Adrienne Segerblom said.
They're responding to the kidnapping of 300 Nigerian schoolgirls. Video released by Boko Haram claims to show some of them covered in hijab and reciting prayers in Arabic. The leader of the terrorist network says no one will see the girls again unless the Nigerian government frees dozens of jailed militants.
"Bring back our girls. Bring back our girls," Rev. Jesse Jackson said.
Rev. Jackson was a surprise guest at Monday night's gathering. He is in town on an unrelated matter, but decided to spend his free time at the local event.
He told ABC7 News, "Because these girls being captured, something about the innocence of these girls as touched us deeply and maybe we can use this to take us beyond to a new Africa-American policy."
Organizers say this is just the beginning. They plan to hold these events regularly until the girls are brought back home.
