WBBM’s Mike Krauser

(CBS) – The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. says Hillary Clinton is the best hope for rebuilding urban America as he offered his endorsement at a South Side memorial to children lost to gun violence.

He chose the Kids Off The Block Memorial near 116th Street and Michigan Avenue in the Roseland neighborhood to make the endorsement, because, Jackson says, he wants people to see the sense of desperation.

Hillary Clinton visited the memorial last March and met with mothers who have lost children to gun violence.

“Six hundred rocks on the wall — children’s names on them killed in this zone. This is a wall of shame and pain and death,” Jackson said.

He said he’s eager for Clinton to return to Chicago to walk the streets of Roseland, Englewood, Lawndale and Pilsen and discuss her plans to deal with the issues of urban America.

Repeatedly he used the word “trust” when talking about Clinton. That’s an issue that some voters have with the presumptive Democratic nominee.

“A lot of that distrust is not justified. The issues that matter to us — civil rights, social justice, gender equality — we can trust her on that, and she has the track record to prove that she can be worthy of the trust,” Jackson said.

Jackson said he has the highest regard for Bernie Sanders and said his crusade will continue with Hillary Clinton. If Donald Trump is elected, he said, “It would destroy the city.”