What we covered today
• The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering civil rights leader whose moral vision and fiery oratory reshaped the Democratic Party and America, has died at age 84. His son, Jesse Jackson Jr., told CNN that his father’s greatest contribution was giving light to people “who found themselves in dark places.”
• President Donald Trump praised him as “a force of nature like few others before him,” while former President Barack Obama described him as a “true giant.”
• In other tributes, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton described Jackson as his mentor and “a movement unto himself,” while Bernice King posted a photo of Jackson alongside her father, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, with the words, “Both now ancestors.”
Our live coverage of the tributes to Rev. Jesse Jackson has wrapped for the day. Please scroll below for details, or read our main story here.
"We stood on his shoulders." Obama pays tribute to Jesse Jackson
Barack Obama has just released a statement on Jesse Jackson’s death, writing that he is “deeply saddened to hear about the passing of a true giant.”
Obamas said that he and his wife Michelle were directly inspired by Jackson, writing: “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,” Obama added.
Here’s a look at Jesse Jackson’s international activism
Late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson’s activism extended far beyond the United States. He made several high-profile international mediation efforts as an unofficial envoy for humanitarian causes, using personal diplomacy to free hostages and prisoners of war.
In 1984, Jackson traveled to Syria and helped secure the release of US Navy Lieutenant Robert Goodman, whose plane was shot down over Lebanon before he was taken as prisoner of war by Syrian troops.
The same year, the civil rights leader also helped get dozens of American and Cuban political prisoners released by then-Cuban leader Fidel Castro in 1984, traveling to Havana to bring them to the US. He was vocal in his criticism of US foreign policy on Cuba, stressing the need for dialogue between the two countries.
In 1990 Jackson met with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to secure the release of hundreds of people being held captive as “human shields” following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Following the talks, Iraq released several detained Americans who left with Jackson.
Jackson’s negotiation and diplomacy efforts also helped free an American who was held captive by guerillas in Colombia, and secured the release of Americans serving prison sentences in Gambia.
Jackson was also outspoken on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, lending support for a two-state solution and arguing that peace requires mutual recognition of both Israeli and Palestinian rights.
In a 1986 interview with the Journal of Palestine Studies, Jackson said the Palestinians must recognize “Israel’s right to exist in security.”
“Likewise, the Israelis must recognize the Palestinians’ right to a homeland, to a state,” he added.
In recognition of his decades-long civil rights activism and international humanitarian diplomacy, Jackson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000, the highest honor given to civilians in the US.
Democratic Rep. James Clyburn remembers growing up with Jackson
Democratic Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, who grew up with Rev. Jesse Jackson, shared a heartfelt statement reminiscing on their childhoods, calling him “one of the most quintessential civil rights leaders.”
Jackson’s “passion to bring together all creeds is a testament to his vision of unity, oneness, and a nation under one accord,” he wrote.
If we all work together we can change history, the South Carolina lawmaker said, noting the initiatives Jackson worked on including Operation Breadbasket, an organization to improve the economic condition of Black communities across the nation, as well as anti-apartheid activism, voter registration, and corporate diversity.
"Unique in American history." An emotional Jesse Jackson Jr. talks about his father's legacy
Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. described his father today as a “unique in American history.”
The former Illinois lawmaker was referring to President Donald Trump’s statement about the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died today at age 84.
Jackson Jr. said his father’s greatest contribution in his activism was giving light to people “who found themselves in dark places” by spending tangible time with those in the margins of society. Following the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Jackson “did the best he could to keep that flame alive,” his son added.
“He saw himself as a public servant. He believed in servant leadership. He saw himself as a seminarian. He saw politics as a way to carry out the ministry of feeding the hungry, of clothing the naked, of providing health care … of providing food,” Jackson Jr. said.
Jackson was troubled by rising polarization, his son emphasized. One of Jackson’s final communications with Trump was about “spirit, energy” and the “challenge before the President of the United States to bring all Americans together,” Jackson Jr. said, noting that he believed his father’s relationship with Trump had the potential to strike a different tone.
“Unfortunately, he was never the recipient of a return phone call from the President of the United States. But it’s never too late. It’s never too late to do right. My father sincerely believes that,” Jackson Jr. added.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity remembers Jackson as “A son of Omega. A servant of the people.”
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity honored Jackson, a 1960 spring initiate of the Pi Psi Chapter, through a video tribute posted to Facebook and X. The posts highlighted Jackson’s lifelong commitment to the organization.
Jackson “stands as a towering figure in the global struggle for justice and human dignity,” the post said.
The fraternity also praised his work for the marginalized, claiming his impact as “undeniable.”
“With two groundbreaking presidential campaigns, more than forty honorary doctorates, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, his impact is undeniable. Yet his greatest legacy lives in the hope he has carried for the marginalized, the oppressed, and the unheard.”
Bill and Hillary Clinton say Rev. Jackson "championed human dignity"
Bill and Hillary Clinton are the latest US politicians to pay tribute to Rev. Jesse Jackson, remembering him as someone who “championed human dignity and helped create opportunities for countless people to live better lives.”
The former president and secretary of state said they were friends with Jackson for almost 50 years after meeting him in 1977 on the 20th anniversary of Little Rock Central High’s integration of nine black students into the then-all-white school.
Bill Clinton awarded Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2000.
“Hillary and I loved him very much. Our hearts and prayers go out to Jackie, their children and grandchildren, and all the people across America and around the world who were inspired by his service to humanity.”
International leaders pay tribute to Jackson on social media
Among the tributes pouring in for Rev. Jesse Jackson are messages from several world leaders, who remembered the civil rights leader as a global moral authority.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on social media that Jackson’s campaigning against apartheid “was a towering contribution to the global anti-apartheid cause,” adding: “we are deeply indebted to the energy, principled clarity and personal risk with which he supported our struggle and campaigned for freedom and equality in other parts of the world.”
Kenya’s President William Ruto called Jackson a “steadfast voice for justice and human dignity” in a post on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, called Jackson’s death an “immense loss,” writing on social media that he was “a tireless promoter of civil rights” who “never stopped defending peace, justice and brotherhood.”
Other notable international figures also paid tribute to Jackson, including British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who called him a “pillar of the civil rights movement.”
Nigerian civil rights activist Shehu Sani wrote that Jackson’s death marked the “end of an era,” calling him “a trailblazer for civil rights and social justice.”
Jackson’s “unwavering dedication to racial equality, justice, freedom and compassion has made a lasting impact on the world,” he said.
CNN’s Lauren Chadwick contributed to this reporting.
"America is more like a quilt." Watch some of Jesse Jackson's 1984 speech at DNC
In 1984, Jesse Jackson spoke at Democratic National Convention, arguing that the party should expand it’s coalition to represent the “many patches” of American society.
In 1984, Jesse Jackson spoke at Democratic National Convention, arguing that the party should expand it's coalition to represent the "many patches" of American society. Jackson died at 84 after a long fight with a neurological disorder.
Statements and condolences pour in after Jesse Jackson’s passing. Catch up here
In the hours since the announcement of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s passing, heartfelt messages of condolences and friendship from prominent US political and civil right figures have been pouring in.
Catch up on what they had to say about the towering civil rights leader here:
- Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., posted a photograph of her father alongside Jackson with the caption “both now ancestors,” touching on the legacy of the two leaders.
- President Donald Trump also acknowledged the passing of Jackson, whom he called “a good man” and “a force of nature like few others before him.”
- Former President Joe Biden reflected on his decadeslong friendship and collaboration with Jackson, regarding him as a “man of God and of the people,” while reminding the public that the drive for equality endures.
- Former Vice President Kamala Harris wrote a tribute to Jesse Jackson in a social media post this morning, saying Jackson “let us know our voices mattered. He instilled in us that we were somebody.”
- Andrew Young, a civil rights leader and former US ambassador to the United Nations, remembered his friend as “always trying to look out for other people.”
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries paid tribute in a post on X, remembering Jackson as a “voice for the voiceless” and source of hope in the fight for racial justice.
- Former Obama White House chief of staff and former mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, praised Jackson as a “moral voice” for those in power, including himself.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer hailed Jesse Jackson as a “fearless warrior,” describing him as one of the most prominent figures for change in the world.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the pioneering civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate, has died at 84, his family said, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped US politics and expanded the modern movement for racial justice.
Jackson pushed companies to increase minority representation
Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson staged campaigns against some of America’s biggest companies and Wall Street to increase racial diversity and economic opportunities.
Jackson frequently organized boycotts and economic protests to pressure major companies to hire Black and minority employees and executives, work with Black vendors, and support youth and jobs training programs for minorities.
In 1971, Jackson founded Operation PUSH, an advocacy organization to advance economic development and political action for Black people.
Operation PUSH organized high-profile boycotts during the following decades, including campaigns against Anheuser Busch, Coca-Cola, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Nike. The group secured detailed agreements from many companies to increase Black economic participation.
In 2014, Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition targeted the tech industry’s lack of diversity. Jackson attended Google and Facebook’s shareholder meetings.
Jackson’s organization last year joined a boycott of Target after the company rolled back some of its diversity programs.
Jackson's friend William Barber II remembers him as a "mighty lion"
Bishop William Barber II remembered Rev. Jesse Jackson as “a civil rights leader, a human rights leader (and) a moral leader,” as well as his friend of more than 40 years.
Describing Jackson as a “mighty lion,” Barber told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that the late civil rights activist understood that politics is “about people.”
Barber was arrested alongside Jackson in 2021 during a Capitol Hill protest over voting rights. The pair also participated in other protests, Barber said.
“A few years ago, we walked in Texas for three days. Jesse, though he had some ailments, came and was with us … He was always there,” he said.
Chicago resident pays respects to Jackson outside Rainbow Push headquarters
Chicago resident Ziff Sistrunk went to the headquarters of Rainbow Push today to pay respects to Rev. Jesse Jackson, saying the civil rights leader helped people such as himself believe “you could be somebody.”
“That’s what brought me out here this morning,” he added, when interviewed by CNN outside the headquarters of the civil rights organization founded by Jackson.
“Take his words, those simple words, that I am somebody. And if the children in schools, people that are getting shot up, believe in recovery, resilience, just take his simple words, that I am somebody.”
"A man of God and of the people." Biden pays tribute to Jackson’s legacy
Former President Joe Biden reflected on his decadeslong friendship and collaboration with Rev. Jesse Jackson, regarding him as a “man of God and of the people,” while reminding the public that the drive for equality endures following Jackson’s passing.
Biden recalled witnessing Jackson’s efforts through “tumult and triumph,” with “relentless insistence on what is right and just.” He said Jackson’s activism leaves a legacy of fearless influence spanning Americans to presidents.
While Jackson’s service was guided by his belief in “the promise of America: that we are all created equal in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally,” Biden noted that the challenge remains to attain that ideal.
“While we’ve never fully lived up to that promise, he dedicated his life to ensuring we never fully walked away from it either,” Biden said.
Jackson lived a life “fully in service to others,” Ben Crump says
Civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump released a statement mourning the life of his longtime friend and mentor.
“Reverend Jackson never stopped pushing America to live up to its promise. He empowered millions to declare, ‘I am somebody,’ and expanded the path for leaders of color in politics and public life,” Crump said in a post on X.
He went on to praise Jackson as a figure who shaped him personally while recalling Jackson’s march alongside Dr. King as just one of his numerous achievements in pushing for equality.
“Reverend Jackson conceived of a more just and inclusive America, believed in it with unwavering faith, and dedicated his entire life to achieving it –– all while teaching the next generation how to carry the torch forward,” he said in the post.
Crump noted that his legacy will continue through his dedicated service and advancements of the last-half century.
America is “a more equal and just place” because of Jackson, Schumer says
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer hailed Jesse Jackson as a “fearless warrior,” describing him as one of the most prominent figures for change in the world.
Schumer offered prayers and recalled lessons of service honoring Jackson’s lifelong work. He called upon the public to follow Jackson’s footsteps.
Jackson was a "living bridge between generations," Martin Luther King III says
Martin Luther King III and his wife Arndrea Waters King called Rev. Jesse Jackson a “living bridge between generations.”
“A towering voice and a devoted servant of justice. Reverend Jackson was more than a civil rights advocate — he was a living bridge between generations, carrying forward the unfinished work and sacred promise of the Civil Rights Movement,” the pair said in a statement.
The Kings added that Jackson had faith in the power of action and said that their hearts are with his loved ones, as well as the “countless people whose lives were touched by his ministry and movement.”
Jackson was "a lifelong soldier for justice," NAACP says
The Rev. Jesse Jackson was “a lifelong soldier for justice” and “a transformative leader whose life’s work is deeply woven into the history, mission, and enduring impact of our Association and the nation,” the NAACP said in a statement honoring his life.
“As a young organizer in the 1960s, he labored alongside NAACP leaders, spoke at several national conventions, marched with our members, and helped expand the national movement for racial equality into a broad, people-powered coalition demanding systemic change,” the association said.
In a joint statement, the leaders of the NAACP continued: “His work advanced Black America at every turn. He challenged this nation to live up to its highest ideals, and he reminded our movement that hope is both a strategy and a responsibility. His historic run for president inspired millions and brought race to the forefront of American politics.”
The NAACP, founded in 1909, advocates and litigates for the civil rights of Black Americans and works to end race-based discrimination.
Kamala Harris on Jackson: “He instilled in us that we were somebody”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris wrote a tribute to Jesse Jackson in a social media post this morning, saying Jackson “let us know our voices mattered. He instilled in us that we were somebody.”
The former vice president shared an anecdote about receiving many a “thumbs up or honk of support” while driving around with a “Jesse Jackson for President” bumper sticker during her time in law school.
“Today and every day, we will carry forward his call to “Keep hope alive,”” her post concluded.
Civil rights leader Andrew Young recalls meeting Jesse Jackson for the first time in Selma
Andrew Young, a civil rights leader and former US ambassador to the United Nations, remembered his friend Rev. Jesse Jackson as “always trying to look out for other people.”
Speaking with CNN, Young recounted meeting Jackson for the first time in Selma, Alabama, during a protest.
“Jesse Jackson and I met in Selma. He was still a student,” Young said. People were backed up in a church because the police had pushed them there, according to Young who said, “to keep people from being hurt, I was standing there and I’d been there all day.”
After the encounter that night, Young said he talked to Martin Luther King Jr. about Jackson. “‘I met a young man last night, he’s from Chicago. When we go there we need to look him up.’” Young said he told King. “But (Jackson) looked us up.”
Jackson and Young became “good friends” according to the ambassador.
