I Smell a Protest March Coming

You don't go and suspend the daughter of America's No.1 shakedown artist without repercussions.

Look for the folks at WVON to cave soon on this one.

Santita Jackson has been suspended as midday host at WVON-AM (1690) in a dispute over Black History Month features on the African-American news/talk station.

Jackson, 44, eldest daughter of the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, has been off the air since Friday with no explanation to listeners. Her talk show airs from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays.

Melody Spann Cooper, general manager of the Midway Broadcasting station, would confirm only that Jackson was off for the rest of the month. "I respect Santita, I love Santita, and I look forward to her coming back on March 1," Cooper said.

Insiders said the two-week suspension was the culmination of ongoing tension at the station.

The blowup occurred, sources said, when Jackson was asked to record a series of biographical vignettes for Black History Month. She agreed to do so, but when she asked that they air only on WVON, a heated exchange with Cooper ensued.