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Jackson warns Texaco
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November 12, 1996: 9:01 p.m. ET
Civil-rights leader threatens boycott if discrimination suit isn't settled
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NEW YORK (CNN) - The Rev. Jesse Jackson Tuesday called for an immediate boycott against Texaco unless the company settles a $520 million discrimination lawsuit and comes up with a concrete program for minority employees.
Jackson also planned a nationwide picketing against the company on Saturday if it failed to show any progress in meeting his demands.
Jackson and several other black leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, met for approximately two-and-a-half hours with Texaco Chairman Peter Bijur at Texaco headquarters in White Plains, New York.
After the meeting, Jackson told CNNfn that Bijur appeared sympathetic to his concerns, but the company still hadn't done enough to address the needs of minority employees. (268K WAV) or (268K AIFF)
Jackson said if Texaco is able to settle the lawsuit by Saturday and present plans to promote the needs of minority employees, there will be no picketing.
However, Bijur said Saturday is an unrealistic deadline to accomplish those goals. He said he appreciated meeting with Jackson and the other black leaders and seeks to work with them to develop a future program.
But, he added, "boycotts are divisive. They cause economic disruption, and I don't believe that's positive."
NAACP President and CEO Kweisi Mfume has asked both Attorney General Janet Reno and FBI Director Louis Freeh to launch separate investigations to determine if criminal or civil rights violations have occurred at Texaco. 
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