Pastor Jesse Jackson passed away Tuesday morning after being hospitalized for some time. He was 84 years old.
He died surrounded by his family, according to a statement from his family.
“Our father was a servant leader, not only to our family, but also to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the family said. “We shared him with the world, and in return the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions of people. We ask you to honor his memory by continuing to fight for the values ​​he lived.”
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, children and grandchildren.
Jackson rose from an aide to Martin Luther King Jr. to one of the nation’s most famous civil rights leaders, transforming the Democratic Party toward a multicultural approach to politics. Jackson became the first presidential candidate to support LGBTQ+ rights in his platform.
He founded the Rainbow Coalition, which brings together activists who support civil rights for all. A civil rights leader once said, “Marriage is based on love and commitment, not sexual orientation. I support the right of any person to marry the person of their choice.”
Information regarding his funeral will be released soon.
“The fight for justice requires courage, hope, and undeniable fortitude, and Reverend Jesse Jackson exemplified that fight every day,” Human Rights Campaign President Kelly Robinson said in a statement. “From disrupting political institutions and building people power to helping this country imagine a freer future for all of us, Reverend Jackson was a force to be reckoned with. His historic presidential campaign inspired generations of Black leaders to enter rooms once said to be off-limits. Pastor Jackson also stood up when it mattered, when it wasn’t easy, and when it wasn’t popular. His support for marriage equality and LGBTQ+ people affirmed a simple and powerful truth: Our liberation is tied together.
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Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
