Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.: He came, he saw, he gave his all!
Rev. Jesse Jackson, who fought for civil rights throughout his life, passed away on February 17, 2026, following a long illness. In 1955, he was the same age as Emmett Till when Till was murdered, and he cites that tragedy as his inspiration to make change in the world.
“We often think of the modern civil rights movement as beginning in 1955 because of the dramatic arrest of Rosa Parks and the emergence of Dr. King,” he wrote. “But that is not so. There is a scientific theory that the earth was born through the big bang. One could make the case that Emmett Till was ‘the big bang,’ the Tallahatchie River was ‘the big bang’ of the civil rights movement.”
He was the first major Black candidate to make a bid for the presidency in 1984 and 1988. He was a friend and supporter of Mamie Till-Mobley throughout her life and penned the introduction to her memoir, Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America (from which the above quote is taken). He spoke on the national stage about the Till tragedy, police brutality, and other important issues.
Rest in power, Rev. Jackson. Thank you for all you did to lift up the Till story and the cause of civil rights.
– Emmett Till Interpretive Center
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Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of a true giant, the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
For more than 60 years, Reverend Jackson helped lead some of the most significant movements for change in human history. From organizing boycotts and sit-ins, to registering millions of voters, to advocating for freedom and democracy around the world, he was relentless in his belief that we are all children of God, deserving of dignity and respect.
Reverend Jackson also created opportunities for generations of African Americans and inspired countless more, including us. Michelle got her first glimpse of political organizing at the Jacksons’ kitchen table when she was a teenager. And in his two historic runs for president, he laid the foundation for my own campaign to the highest office of the land.
Michelle and I will always be grateful for Jesse’s lifetime of service, and the friendship our families share. We stood on his shoulders. We send our deepest condolences to the Jackson family and everyone in Chicago and beyond who knew and loved him.
– President Barack Obama and
Mrs. Michelle Obama
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I mourn the loss of my friend, Rev. Jesse Jackson. We were in the fight together, pushing for better days, standing up for those whose voices too often went unheard. Jesse never backed down. He believed in justice, in equality, and in the power of faith to move mountains. And he carried that belief with courage every single day.
We marched. We organized. We prayed. We fought for progress we knew our communities deserved. His voice may be quiet now, but his impact will echo for generations.
Rest on, my friend.
– Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS)
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The Mississippi Democratic Party today joins the nation in mourning the passing of the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., who died peacefully surrounded by his family at the age of 84. A protégé of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a two-time presidential candidate, and the founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Reverend Jackson was among the most consequential figures in the history of American democracy and the struggle for human dignity.
“Our nation has lost one of its greatest moral voices,” said Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor. “Reverend Jackson carried history in his footsteps and hope in his voice, and he never stopped reminding us that the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice only when people are willing to bend it themselves.”
In Mississippi – a state that has long been at the front lines of the fight for voting rights and racial justice – Reverend Jackson’s legacy is deeply personal. His tireless advocacy for Black voter registration, economic justice, and the elevation of marginalized communities spoke directly to the experience of Mississippi Democrats, whose work continues in his spirit today.
“Keep hope alive,” Reverend Jackson told us – over and over, in city after city, decade after decade. Today, the Mississippi Democratic Party commits to doing just that,” Chairman Taylor said. “We will honor his memory not with words alone, but with action. We will keep organizing, keep fighting, keep registering voters, and keep building the beloved community he gave his life to create.”
The Mississippi Democratic Party extends its deepest condolences to the Jackson family, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and all who were touched by this extraordinary man.
Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. – October 8, 1941 – February 17, 2026. Rest in power.
– Mississippi Democratic Party
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Reverend Jesse Jackson was a giant of the American story and a moral voice for the world. From the streets of the civil rights movement to the halls of power, he devoted his life to confronting injustice, expanding democracy, and calling this nation to live up to its highest ideals.
I was blessed to know Reverend Jackson and to witness his commitment up close. He never lost faith in the power of ordinary people to do extraordinary things, and he never stopped urging us to ‘keep hope alive’ even in our hardest hours. His leadership helped register voters, open doors that had long been closed, and build coalitions.
We mourn a pastor, a freedom fighter, and a statesman whose work reshaped our politics and our conscience. We also celebrate a life spent lifting up the poor, defending the voiceless, and challenging racism and inequality wherever he found them. His legacy will live on in every ballot cast, every young leader he inspired, and every community still striving for justice.
On behalf of the City of Jackson, I extend my condolences to his wife, Jacqueline, their children, the entire Jackson family, and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition family. May we honor Reverend Jackson by continuing the work to which he gave his life, expanding opportunity, protecting the right to vote, and bending the arc of history toward justice.
– Jackson Mayor John Horhn
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The passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson marks the loss of one of the most consequential voices of the modern Civil Rights Movement.
From marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to founding Operation PUSH and building the Rainbow Coalition, Rev. Jackson expanded the movement beyond the streets and into the political arena. His 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns reshaped American politics, proving that multiracial coalitions could challenge power and widen our democracy. In doing so, he honored the sacrifice of Medgar Evers and others who gave their lives for justice – building coalitions, holding power accountable, and pressing the nation to live up to its promise.
He was a steadfast friend to our family and a powerful force in the ongoing struggle for justice.
He carried forward the fight for voting rights, economic justice, and human dignity with unwavering commitment. “Keep Hope Alive” was not a slogan. It was a charge to act.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family and to the many communities he uplifted. May we honor his legacy by continuing the work.
– Reena Evers-Everette
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Jesse Jackson was my friend of nearly 60 years. We first marched together in 1966 – James Meredith’s March Against Fear – right behind Dr. King, Roy Wilkins, and all the other national Black leaders of SCLC, SNCC, NCNW, and NAACP. When I ran in the special City of Jackson Commission race, Jesse and I spoke at a Jackson State University GOTV rally and then led a reported historical 1,000 students to the courthouse. Hundreds of young people registered to vote in that single day! What a powerful act that changed voter outcomes in 1984.
– Rev. Shirley Harrington
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As a family, we are most grateful for the concerns and support of Reverend Jesse Jackson for his involvement in seeking justice for our son, Andre Jones, and all other family members during the Human Rights Commission in the investigation into the Mississippi jail deaths in the State of Mississippi.
– Esther Muhammad
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I have lost the man who first called me into purpose when I was just twelve years old. And our nation lost one of its greatest moral voices. The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson was not simply a civil rights leader; he was a movement unto himself. He carried history in his footsteps and hope in his voice. One of the greatest honors of my life was learning at his side. He reminded me that faith without action is just noise. He taught me that protest must have purpose, that faith must have feet, and that justice is not seasonal, it is daily work.
In 1969, when I was still a teenager trying to find my place in this struggle, Rev. Jackson appointed me youth director of the Brooklyn branch of Operation Breadbasket, the economic arm of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He trusted me with responsibility and saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself. That is the measure of a true mentor: they do not just teach you; they name you.
He later named the headquarters of National Action Network “The House of Justice,” a reminder that movements must be anchored in moral purpose. Through Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition, he expanded the political imagination of this nation. He ran for President not because it was easy, but because he believed America could be better than its history. In doing so, he opened doors that many of us, me included, who followed in his footsteps and ran for President.
But to me, he was more than a public figure. He was godfather to my two daughters. He prayed over them as infants. He spoke life into them as young girls. We stood in his home not as a headline, but as family. He taught them, and me, that trying is as important as triumph. That you do not wait for the dream to come true; you work to make it real. Because of him, I learned that leadership is not about being seen, it is about seeing others. Because of him, I learned that our lives mean the most when they are spent widening the circle of who belongs.
Reverend Jackson stood wherever dignity was under attack, from apartheid abroad to injustice at home. His voice echoed in boardrooms and in jail cells. His presence shifted rooms. His faith never wavered.
Today, I grieve not only a leader, but the steady voice that guided me when the road was uncertain. I am heartbroken. But I am eternally grateful that God allowed me to walk beside a man who helped bend the arc of history and shaped the arc of my own life.
Today we mourn. But we do not retreat. We pray for the Jackson family to carry the torch. The greatest way to honor Reverend Jesse Jackson is not in memory alone, but in movement. He taught us to keep marching. He taught us to keep organizing. He taught us that justice is never given, it is demanded.
Rest now, Reverend Jackson. I love you.
– Rev. Al Sharpton
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This is a sad time for me, knowing that Reverend Jesse Jackson is no longer with us – it’s truly heartbreaking. It’s sad for me, for Black people as a whole, and for so many others who needed his help and his voice of encouragement.
Because we all need hope. I’ve often quoted things I learned from Jesse Jackson, along with lessons from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jesse always had a theme: “Keep hope alive.” That stays in my heart every day. He taught me that you can live a long time without food or water, but you can’t live long without hope.
Jesse gave me hope by showing me how to find it within myself – a vision to hold on to. I’m going to miss him. We’re all going to miss him. Many people don’t realize how great a part he played alongside Dr. King. I was blessed to know them both as friends, and now I’ve lost them both. That leaves an emptiness in my life.
But what he taught me and what he showed me in life – I’ll never forget. I will forever keep hope alive.
– Grammy Winner Bobby Rush
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I am heartbroken by the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson.
I knew Reverend Jackson personally and had the privilege of working alongside him in the long, ongoing fight for civil rights, dignity, and economic justice. He was a leader who never separated the struggle for racial equality from the struggle for fairness for working people – because he understood they are one and the same.
Reverend Jackson stood with working people and labor unions not as an observer, but as a partner in the fight. He appeared on picket lines, supported organizing drives, and spoke powerfully about the right of every worker to earn a living wage, work in safe conditions, and be treated with respect on the job. He believed collective bargaining was a civil rights issue, and he used his national platform to ensure the country heard that truth.
He carried the hopes of so many communities on his shoulders, and he did it with uncommon courage. He challenged the country to confront hard truths, and he pushed all of us to be bolder, to be more faithful to the work, and to never accept injustice as normal.
His voice shaped generations. His impact will outlive this moment. And his legacy will continue to call us forward – to organize, to stand together, and to keep fighting for the world he spent his life demanding we build.
I extend my deepest condolences to his family, to all who loved him, and to everyone who drew strength from his life and leadership.
– Clayola Brown, National President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute
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Rest in resistance and power dear friend! The country preacher who brought the operation that pushed us forward! You taught us not to pump gas where we couldn’t eat. You taught us to honor all shades of the rainbow!
I remember childhood stories of you and my Mississippi Delta dad’s friendship and brotherhood in the ministry. When my dad made his transition to the ancestral realm, you brought comfort to our family and yes, you preached my dad’s funeral.
I remember when Ngoma and I, then known as the Serious Bizness music duo, sang our contemporary freedom songs at a “Run Jesse Run” rally in New Hampshire.
I remember talking about struggle in Durban!
I remember the day you brought our dear Sister Mamie Till to Kokomo, Mississippi, following the lynching of Raynard Johnson and how on that day, I got to meet her, thank her, and give her a hug.
I remember Newark and the Operation Breadbasket Choir!
I remember how you loved us and fiercely fought for us! I thought I had more time! Thank you for all of it. I will keep fighting because I learned how to fight from you! Take your well earned rest dear Brother Warrior.
– Attorney Jaribu Hill
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The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund is deeply saddened by the loss of a dear friend, visionary, and 18th Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr., who passed away at the age of 84.
This is a profound loss of a giant whose life’s work reshaped the landscape of equity in America. Reverend Jackson was a force in the movement for Black empowerment and economic justice. As the founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he spent more than sixty years confronting the denial of civil and voting rights, challenging our nation to build more humane and inclusive systems.
Reverend Jackson brought people together across lines of race, culture, class, and belief. His long-time connection to the Federation was rooted in a shared commitment to grassroots organizing, saving family farms, and creating economic justice for rural communities at large.
“Much like other great civil rights leaders who paved the way, Reverend Jackson understood that civil rights and economic rights go hand in hand. His presence was felt in every movement for social justice, and his legacy continues to guide our work today.” – Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director of the FSC/LAF.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, Reverend Jackson’s journey took him from the football fields of North Carolina A&T State University to the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His accolades reflect a lifetime of tireless dedication, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Bill Clinton in 2000 and the prestigious NAACP Spingarn Award for his outstanding achievements in human rights. A fixture of moral leadership, he was featured on the Gallup List of the Ten Most Respected Americans for more than a dozen years. Beyond his activism, he was a man of deep faith; following his ordination in 1968, he later earned his Master of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2000, further cementing his legacy as a spiritual and social leader.
The Federation’s bond with Reverend Jackson was celebrated most recently during its 52nd Annual Meeting, where he was named the recipient of the 18th Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award. While health concerns prevented the Reverend from attending in person, his son, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, accepted the honor on his behalf.
The Federation cherishes the dedication of a fierce advocate for marginalized communities and extends its deepest condolences and prayers to the Jackson family and the millions of people whose lives were touched by his ministry and activism. Rest in power, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr.
– The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund
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The 1400 Klub honors the incredible legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson at the 1400. His passion and dedication to Jackson State University created unforgettable moments that continue to inspire us all. From leading powerful discussions to uplifting our community, Jesse’s impact is felt far and wide.
He championed change and empowered the next generation. Let’s celebrate his contributions and keep his spirit alive as we move forward together.
–The 1400 Klub
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Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. was a beloved civil and human rights icon who championed justice, equality, diversity, inclusion, and peace. The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) expresses our deepest sympathies to Reverend Jackson’s family, staff, and friends.
In the early days of Reverend Jackson’s civil rights activism, he worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King appointed him to serve as the first director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s (SCLC) Operation Breadbasket in Chicago, Illinois. After serving in this capacity and Dr. King’s death, he established Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), an organization dedicated to improving the economic conditions of African American communities across the United States, in 1971.
After his first presidential campaign in 1984, Reverend Jackson launched the National Rainbow Coalition which sought equal rights for all Americans. He ran for president in 1988 and served as a shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1996. He merged Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition in 1996.
Over the years, MMTC had the honor of working with Reverend Jackson and his organization, Rainbow PUSH Coalition on policy issues that advocated for diversity in corporate, media, and technology ownership and hiring. In 1997, he received MMTC’s Everett C. Parker Lifetime Achievement Award, our highest honor given to a distinguished citizen who has rendered the most distinguished service, over many years, to diversity and inclusion in the media and telecom industries.
“Rev. Jackson was a front-line fighter for civil rights his entire life. He was a true leader who never lost his way and wasn’t afraid to speak the truth. His spirit will live on in all of us who continue to stand and fight for social justice and equality,” said MMTC President and CEO Robert E. Branson.
– The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC)
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We mourn the loss of a titan of justice whose life was a testament to the belief that every voice matters and real change requires relentless moral courage. For decades, the AFT stood shoulder to shoulder with him. He walked our picket lines and lifted up our members, knowing that labor rights and civil rights are inseparable. He fought tirelessly for education funding and justice, and he spoke out with urgency against the scourge of gun violence devastating our communities.
His powerful affirmation – ‘I am somebody’ – gave generations of young people a sense of dignity and possibility. Rev. Jackson was always dreaming, always fighting. He believed in the audacity of hope long before it was fashionable. He believed in multiracial coalitions, in the power of organized labor and in the promise of democracy, and he never stopped pushing this country to be better.
On behalf of our 1.8 million members, we can say that our relationship with Rev. Jackson was not fleeting – it was forged in struggle and sustained in solidarity. We are better because he walked with us. We are stronger because he believed in us. May we honor his life not only in words, but in continued action – lifting up workers, protecting children, confronting injustice, and proclaiming – through our deeds as well as our voices – that everybody is somebody.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family, to his many friends across generations of activists, educators and unionists, and to all who were inspired by his remarkable life.”
– AFT President Randi Weingarten, Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram, and Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus
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“It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of civil rights leader, Baptist minister, humanitarian, and two-time Democratic presidential candidate Jesse Jackson,” said Shanita Brackett, Acting Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. “As a lifelong champion of human rights and social justice, Jackson rose to become one of the nation’s foremost religious and political figures and one of the most iconic figures in the latter 20th century. During his life of service, Jackson was often the great unifier leading the charge to galvanize people together across race, gender, class, and beliefs.”
Jackson participated in local civil rights demonstrations during his undergraduate years and became heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1965, he participated in the Selma March with Martin Luther King Jr., which led to his involvement with King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) where he was eventually appointed as director of the economic branch.
After leaving the SCLC, Jackson founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), a Chicago-based group that sought to uplift the Black community and work for economic justice. A few years later in 1984, Jackson helped found the National Rainbow Coalition, which fought for equal rights for African Americans, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. Eventually, the two groups merged to become the largely successful Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, a non-profit whose mission is to protect, defend, and gain civil rights by leveling the economic and educational playing fields. They have launched many initiatives, such as the ongoing “Wall Street Project” which encourages leading financial firms and Fortune 500 companies to ensure equal opportunity for employees and consumers.
While running Operation PUSH, Jackson was a statehood senator for the District of Columbia and became the second African American to make a national run for the U.S. presidency. Jackson was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and again in 1988. As a strong orator, Jackson successfully negotiated the release of American captives from several countries in the 1980s and 1990s, earning him the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Bill Clinton. His push to improve the economic lives of African Americans and civil rights of all Americans made him a strong advocate for human rights and a prolific figure in the Black community.
Jackson will be remembered for his tireless and unrelenting dedication to activism and for being a leading spokesman for issues impacting African Americans and the disenfranchised.
– The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
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The NAACP mourns the passing of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., a transformative leader whose life’s work is deeply woven into the history, mission, and enduring impact of our Association and the nation.
Rev. Jackson was family to the NAACP. From his early days as a young organizer in the 1960s to his historic run for the presidency in the 1980s, he worked alongside NAACP leaders, marched with our members, spoke at several of our national conventions, and helped expand the national movement for racial equality into a broad, people-powered coalition demanding systemic change.
A recipient of the NAACP President’s Award in 1988 and the Spingarn Medal in 1989, he challenged this nation to live up to its highest ideals and inspired millions to join the fight for justice.
His leadership in advancing voting rights, economic justice, and educational opportunity strengthened the very pillars of our community. Whether challenging racially discriminatory policies, uplifting marginalized voices, or building multiracial movements through the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Rev. Jackson’s work forged a path toward equality for all.
As we honor his legacy, we are reminded of what he taught us: that hope is both a strategy and a responsibility.
Let us carry his light forward by staying committed, staying organized, and remaining faithful to the pursuit of justice.
Rest in Power, Rev. Jackson.
– Chairman Leon W. Russell and
Vice Chair Karen Boykin Towns, National Board of Directors, NAACP
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The Moss Point – Jackson County Branch of the NAACP joins the nation and the world in mourning the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson – a towering figure in the struggle for civil rights, economic justice, and human dignity.
Rev. Jackson dedicated his life to uplifting the oppressed, empowering the marginalized, and challenging systems of inequality. From his early leadership alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to his founding of transformative movements that expanded political participation and economic opportunity, his voice remained fearless, principled, and unwavering.
Rev. Jackson’s legacy is not only found in history books or headlines – it lives on in every community strengthened by voter engagement, every young person inspired to lead, and every door opened because he demanded fairness and inclusion.
We honor his extraordinary life of service and extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched. As we reflect on his impact, we recommit ourselves to continuing the work he championed: justice, equality, and opportunity for all.
May his memory be a blessing and a call to action.
– Curley Clark, President,
Moss Point – Jackson County Branch, NAACP
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As a young man at North Carolina A&T, Jackson answered the call of the Civil Rights Movement, joining the Congress of Racial Equality and participating in sit-ins that challenged Jim Crow. In 1965, he marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma. Jackson joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was entrusted by Dr. King to lead Operation Breadbasket, first as Chicago coordinator, then as national director, pioneering economic empowerment as a weapon of liberation, compelling corporations to hire Black workers and invest in Black communities.
On April 4, 1968, Jackson stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, hours before an assassin’s bullet silenced the dreamer but could not silence the dream. Where lesser souls might have retreated, Jackson pressed forward. In 1971, he founded Operation PUSH, extending the mission of economic justice and birthing the anthem of a generation: “I Am Somebody!” That declaration gave the voiceless a voice and the marginalized a megaphone.
In 1984, Jackson did what America said could not be done, launching a presidential campaign that registered millions of new voters and shattered the perception that a Black man could not compete on the highest political stage. His Rainbow Coalition cast an audacious vision of multiracial democracy, a coalition of the rejected that became a coalition of the resurrected. In 1988, he ran again, winning eleven contests and seven million votes, and changed the Democratic Party’s delegate system to proportional representation, a reform essential to the historic election of President Barack Obama. The Rainbow Coalition and PUSH merged in 1996 to form the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a beacon for racial equality, economic justice, and voting rights.
The National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc. extends our deepest condolences to his wife of nearly sixty years, Mrs. Jacqueline Brown Jackson; to his children; his grandchildren; and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition family. We mourn with you and honor the man you shared with the world.
Reverend Jackson reminded us: “Keep hope alive!” Today, we declare that hope is not dead, for it was never dependent upon one man’s heartbeat. He has kept the faith. He has finished his course. He has fought the good fight. Rest now, Reverend. The bridge you crossed, we shall not retreat from. The doors you opened, we shall not allow to close. Until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
– Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert Jr.,
President-Elect, National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc., Louisville, KY
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