Jesse Jackson: 'Duck Dynasty' Comments Worse Than Rosa Parks Incident

While businesses like Baltimore-based Under Armour have condemned the recent remarks by “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson about gays and African-Americans – but continue their ties with the franchise -- the Rev. Jesse Jackson has demanded a meeting with network executives about Robertson.

According to a Baltimore Sun story, Jackson says the embattled Robertson family patriarch has done something “more offensive” than the bus driver who ordered Rosa Parks to move to the back of his bus.

On Monday, Jackson, head of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, demanded a meeting within 72 hours over Robertson’s claim in a GQ interview that African-Americans were perfectly happy before Civil Rights. Rosa Parks helped launch the movement when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on Dec. 1, 1955.

“These statements uttered by Robertson are more offensive than the bus driver in Montgomery, Alabama, more than 59 years ago,” Jackson said in the Sun’s story. “At least the bus driver, who ordered Rosa Parks to surrender her seat to a white person, was following state law. Robertson’s statements were uttered freely and openly without cover of the law, within a context of what he seemed to believe was 'white privilege'.”

A&E, the cable network that carries “Duck Dynasty,” has suspended Robertson from future filming. The network did not respond to a request for comment on whether it would meet with Jackson, the Sun says. Jackson also wants GLAAD and executives from Cracker Barrel to attend the meeting. The restaurant chain initially decided to pull “Duck Dynasty” merchandise, but reversed itself after fans defended Robertson.

Sports apparel maker Under Armour said that it is keeping its business ties to the "Duck Dynasty" franchise, which stirred a vigorous debate on the company’s Facebook page.

Under Armour provides much of the camouflage clothing worn by the stars of the reality TV show and is the title sponsor of a “Duck Dynasty” spinoff show, “Buck Commander,” the Baltimore Business Journal says.

The Huffington post reports that on Jan. 15, A&E will begin airing new episodes of the show that include scenes featuring the "Dynasty" patriarch. They were filmed earlier this year before the controversial interview prompted the network to dismiss Robertson. 

Earlier Patch stories on this topic:

'Duck Dynasty' Debate Takes Over Under Armour's Facebook Page