JACKSON'S CALL LACKS LOCAL SUPPORT

Wayne Baker Says He, Others Do Not Support Disinvestment

In an effort to set the record straight, Interdenominational Ministerial
Alliance President Wayne Baker will clarify today the Rev. Jesse Jackson's
call to disinvest in Columbus.

Jackson made the call Monday morning in Atlanta for people across the
country to pull their money out of financial institutions based in Columbus
until the man who shot Kenneth Walker is federally prosecuted and Georgia
adopts anti-racial profiling legislation.

Baker, who stood next to Jackson as he made those remarks, said he was
"somewhat surprised" by the call for the disinvestment and said he and
other local leaders did not agree with it.

"We don't support that," Baker said. "That was a premature statement."

Baker described the city as being in an "uproar" about the call to
disinvestment. Baker, who thought the Monday press conference would be
about an upcoming Columbus march, said he will give more details about why
he and local leaders are not supporting the disinvestment today on the
plaza level of the Government Center.

Local National Action Network chairman Antonio Carter was in Atlanta when
Jackson called for a disinvestment. Carter would not comment on the
disinvestment Wednesday but said Baker will clarify his position today.

Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, said the Minority Elected Officials
Coalition would be "lending support on the issue" today, as well.

Walker, 39, was fatally shot in December 2003 by then-Muscogee County
Deputy Sheriff David Glisson during a traffic stop that was part of a drug
investigation.