Rainbow PUSH convention focuses on gun violence

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Hillary Clinton will speak at the 45th annual Rainbow PUSH Coalition convention in Chicago, which kicked off Saturday with the Rev. Jesse Jackson outlining a 10-point plan to curb gun violence.

The convention runs through Wednesday.

Jackson, the founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, calling Chicago's violence a national emergency - 300 people fatally shot in Chicago so far this year. Getting people to the voting booth is the No. 1 priority to reduce gun violence, according to Jackson's plan.

This year, the Orlando shooting, which left 49 dead, is going to be a topic of discussion. The convention tackles global issues but the focus is primarily on ending urban gun violence.

"We are putting leaders together that will put on two million new voters this fall in spite of the resistance and the attempt to sabotage with voter ID," Jackson said. "We're going to have a massive voter registration this fall."

Other points in the plan include:

- White House Conference on violence and reconstruction

- Creating a Slavery Day of Remembrance

- Reducing prison populations

- Expanding the economic playing field for African Americans

"When you have such a disparity where jobs leave an urban environment. What are people supposed to do to survive?" Naimah Latif, a Rainbow PUSH volunteer. "It's the desperation that comes from lack of opportunities that creates the violence."

45th annual Rainbow PUSH Coalition Convention: A More Perfect Union

Date: June 25-29, 2016

Saturday - 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Sunday - 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Monday - Wednesday - 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Address: Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Chicago

Admission/Ticket Prices: General: $150, Students: $50, Seniors: $75

More Information:http://www.rainbowpush.org/