ACTIVISTS PROD TEXACO.

Byline: Roger Petterson Associated Press 

Demonstrations against Texaco's racial policies on Saturday turned into celebrations of a $176 million discrimination settlement, although the Rev. Jesse Jackson and other African-American leaders promised to keep the pressure on.

Jackson said the settlement ``does not indicate that the culture has changed,'' and while pickets will be dropped, a boycott against the oil company will continue.

``The settlement is a step in the right direction, but a comprehensive plan including goals, targets and timetables in terms of employment and economic development is still not on the table,'' Jackson said at a news conference in Chicago.

Later in California, speaking to 75 protesters in front of Texaco's massive Wilmington refinery, Jackson said the company still needs to ``open things up for women and minorities. The key to this is our own vigilance.''

Jackson said his Rainbow network plans to buy $1,000 worth of Texaco stock to get a voice in the company and also to look at the racial policies of other major companies that share directors with Texaco, including Gillette, Johnson & Johnson and Campbell Soup.

A protest planned for a Texaco service station in Stone Mountain, Ga., was called off after Friday's settlement announcement. About 20 people showed up anyway.

``We went to the designated location but we really went more in the spirit of celebration,'' said Joe Beasley, southern regional director for the National Rainbow Coalition.

Texaco agreed to pay $115 million to about 1,400 current and former employees and to give African-American employees 10 percent raises. It also will spend $35 million on a task force that is to open opportunities for African-American workers, monitor discrimination and develop diversity and sensitivity training.

In New York City, the Rev. Al Sharpton led about two dozen sign-waving demonstrators at a Texaco station in Brooklyn. ``Justice at Texaco'' and ``End Racism at Texaco,'' some signs read. ``We Want Fairness'' read another.

``We feel it was a historic agreement,'' Sharpton said. ``But now we must deal with corporate structure, board makeup, contracting, advertising and franchises. We have won the first game of the World Series, but the series is not over.''

The Black State Employees Association went ahead with a demonstration at a Texaco station in Dallas. About 40 protesters waved signs and carried bullhorns.

``Texaco must now settle up with the African-American community for the irreparable harm, vile and disparaging attacks directed at the African-American community,'' said Darren Reagan, chairman of the Texas group.

Ministers in the New Orleans area dropped plans for a boycott of Texaco stations after the settlement.

``We weren't trying to put them out of business, just trying to put justice in business,'' said the Rev. Norwood Thompson, pastor of First Zion Baptist Church.