Civil rights leader and minority advocate Rev. Jesse Jackson called military intervention in Iraq “real dangerous” after speaking before tens of thousands of protesters on the Mall Saturday.

One of dozens of speakers for the International Act Now to Stop War and Racism coalition, Jackson said after his speech that he hopes the government reconsiders its stance on Iraq and foreign policy priorities. He also called for more African Americans to become involved in the anti-war movement.

“Black people are always fighting on the front of the war lines . and at the back of the peace lines,” Jackson said in an interview after his speech, noting that black Americans make up a large percentage of soldiers.

He said he believe rallies across the country on college campuses and at churches will engage the black community.

Jackson criticized Bush priorities, including a “wrong” environmental policy and lack of action in the Ivory Coast and Israeli-Palestinian disputes.

“He is using Saddam as a decoy instead of addressing real problems,” he said, noting that he does not consider Hussein a threat to the United States. “Saddam Hussein can be contained.”