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CHICAGO (AP) — A significant gathering is expected in Chicago this Friday as a celebration of life is held for the late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. The event will draw an array of influential figures, including three former U.S. presidents, Grammy-winning musicians, clergy, and elected officials.
This commemoration pays tribute to Jackson, a mentee of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and a two-time presidential candidate. It follows earlier memorial services that saw substantial turnouts in both Chicago and South Carolina, Jackson’s birthplace.
The Chicago event is set to be held at a prominent Black church known for its 10,000-seat arena, making it the largest gathering so far. Scheduled speakers include former Democratic U.S. Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Bill Clinton, along with former Vice President Kamala Harris, as announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the organization Jackson established. Gospel singer BeBe Winans is among the performers set to take the stage.
“These homegoing services are open to everyone, whether Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative,” stated Jackson’s son, Jesse Jackson Jr., last month. “His life was expansive enough to encompass the full spectrum of what it means to be an American. Dad would have wanted us to gather, discuss our differences, and find ways to move forward together.”
Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. passed away last month at the age of 84 after struggling with a rare neurological disorder that impaired his mobility and speech. Despite these challenges, family members recount that he continued to work until last year, using hand signals to communicate. His last public appearance was at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Jackson’s pursuits were countless, taking him to all corners of the globe: Advocating for the poor and underrepresented on issues including voting rights, health care, job opportunities and education. He scored diplomatic victories with world leaders, and through Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he channeled cries for Black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms, pressuring executives to make America a more open and equitable society.
Jackson’s services in Chicago and South Carolina drew civic leaders, school groups and everyday people who said they were touched by Jackson’s work, from scholarship programs to advocating for inmates. Several states flew flags at half-staff in his honor.
Services in Washington, D.C., were tabled after a request to let Jackson lie in honor at the United States Capitol rotunda was denied by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who said precedent typically reserves the space for select officials, including former presidents. Details on a future event have not been made public.
In his final months, Jackson received numerous visitors in Chicago, including the Clintons and the Rev. Al Sharpton, who also attended his memorial services in Chicago last week.
“He has been the central mentor of my life,” Sharpton said. “The challenge for us that we’ve got to make sure that all he lived for was not in vain.”