(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch and civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce the filing of a civil rights lawsuit against Jesse Jackson, his son Jonathan, Judge Mathis, and others. The press conference will be attended by Rev. Peterson and his counsel Larry Klayman, Chairman and General Counsel of Judicial Watch. Rev. Peterson heads BOND (The Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny). Judicial Watch is a public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes public corruption and abuse. The lawsuit will be filed today in state court in California and names Jesse Jackson, his son Jonathan, Gregory Mathis, and Rainbow/Push Coalition as defendants.

The lawsuit alleges the defendants, during a December 10, 2001 public meeting to discuss the awarding of minority-oriented contracts by Toyota, surrounded and assaulted Rev. Peterson – calling him “nigger” as they taunted and harmed him. Rev. Peterson is a nationally known conservative civil rights activist who has been critical of Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow/Push operation. At one point during the assault, Gregory Mathis, who hosts the nationally-televised program “Judge Mathis,” is alleged to have yelled “where’s your buddy [Bill] O’Reilly [of Fox News] now?” (Rev. Peterson is a regular guest on Mr. O’Reilly’s program, “The O’Reilly Factor.”)

“Jesse Jackson and his collaborators must be held accountable under the rule of law,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman.