Accompanied by a small entourage, Reverend Jesse Jackson spoke at a rally outside Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle Wednesday in support of Amazon’s security guards.
The security guards are not employed by Amazon, but instead work for a California-based company called Security Industry Specialists, or SIS.
Jackson led the modest crowd in a variation of "Hands up! Don't shoot!" — the chant recited by protesters in Ferguson, Missouri. The crowd turned it into a call for better conditions for low wage workers: “Hands up for jobs and justice! Hands up for security workers who want to see their children go to college. Hands up!”
The rally was partially organized by the Service Employees International Union, which accuses SIS of unfair labor practices. SIS, in turn, says the union is running a "vicious corporate” campaign against the company to pressure its workers to unionize.
Jackson has been in the Seattle area for the past few days shining a light on the lack of diversity in the tech industry. He is encouraging protesters demonstrating against the grand jury decision in Ferguson to express their opinions peacefully.
Amazon did not respond to requests for comment.
