Rainbow PUSH Coalition: Honoring the Legacy of Jesse Jackson Sr.

Cross-country memorial services for the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Are underway, beginning in Chicago, the city he long called home. The civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate will lie in repose for two days at the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition before services in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina, where he was born.

A Life Dedicated to Social Justice

Rev. Jackson died last week at the age of 84 after a battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological disorder . Remembrances have poured in from across the United States, with several states flying flags at half-staff in his honor. The impact of his death is particularly felt in Chicago, where he lived for decades and raised his family, including Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

From Operation Breadbasket to Rainbow PUSH

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s roots trace back to the work of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Operation Breadbasket, founded in 1966 . In 1966, Dr. King appointed Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. As the first director of Operation Breadbasket in Chicago . Operation Breadbasket aimed to combine theology and social justice to effect progressive economic, educational, and social policy in America .

In 1971, Rev. Jackson established People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), dedicated to improving the economic conditions of Black communities across the United States . PUSH expanded into social and political development through direct action campaigns, a weekly radio broadcast, and awards recognizing prominent Black individuals . The organization successfully pressured corporations to adopt affirmative action programs and include Black suppliers in their purchasing lists .

In 1984, following his first presidential campaign, Rev. Jackson merged PUSH with the Rainbow Coalition, forming the Rainbow PUSH Coalition . This merger created a powerful vehicle for advocating for social justice and policy change .

Memorial Services and Legacy

Following the two days of repose in Chicago, Rev. Jackson will lie in honor at the South Carolina Statehouse, with services including remarks from Gov. Henry McMaster and a wreath placement ceremony. He spent his childhood and began his activism in South Carolina .

A request to have Rev. Jackson lie in honor at the United States Capitol rotunda was denied by House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office.

The two weeks of events will conclude with a celebration of life gathering at a Chicago megachurch and homegoing services at the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Family members have stated that all are welcome to attend the services .

“His life is broad enough to cover the full spectrum of what it means to be American,” his son, Jesse Jackson Jr., stated .