{"id":137338,"date":"2026-02-18T13:57:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T13:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/137338\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T13:57:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T13:57:19","slug":"politicians-in-new-york-and-nationwide-remember-jesse-jackson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/137338\/","title":{"rendered":"Politicians in New York and nationwide remember Jesse Jackson"},"content":{"rendered":"

Political leaders nationwide are paying tribute to Rev. Jesse Jackson and remembering him not only for his trailblazing human rights activism, but also for his historic bid for the presidency. His impact in the sphere of racial justice inspired generations of activists to forge their own campaigns, and that includes New York\u2019s politicos.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a daughter of Caribbean immigrants and a public servant representing the vibrant, diverse communities of Brooklyn, I have long stood on the shoulders of Rev. Jackson\u2019s courage and conviction,\u201d said Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). \u201cHe showed us what fearless advocacy looks like, and the sacrifice it entails. He taught us that justice requires persistence, faith, and an unshakable belief in the power of the people. Well done, thy good and faithful servant. May he rest in eternal power.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2018, the CBC Foundation presented Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, with the prestigious Phoenix Award for Lifetime Achievement for their decades of service in advancing civil rights and social justice. <\/p>\n

Clarke added that her prayers are with Jackson\u2019s family, including his son, Rep. Jonathan Jackson of Illinois.<\/p>\n

Jackson inspired seasoned politicians and people in the early years of their political careers alike, including those who have risen to one of the most important offices in the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday we mourn the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, a giant of the civil rights movement who never stopped demanding that America live up to its promise,\u201d posted <\/a>Mayor Zohran Mamdani. \u201cHe marched, he ran, he organized and he preached justice without apology.\u2028\u2028May we honor him not just in words, but in struggle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jackson\u2019s two presidential campaigns<\/a>, in 1984 and 1988, were groundbreaking. He helped register millions of voters and forged a new model for modern democracy. Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, said that Jackson\u2019s Rainbow PUSH Coalition was \u201ca multi-racial, multi-class\u201d movement that shifted the political landscape. <\/p>\n

\u201cHis two presidential campaigns shifted our political landscape, offering an expansive vision of opportunity that confronts inequality and builds a true multiracial democracy,\u201d said Tanden. \u201cHis vision remains a hallmark of progressive politics today.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say that without Jackson\u2019s ambition, the path toward becoming the first Black person to occupy the White House may not have been forged for former president Barack Obama. In a statement<\/a>, Obama himself credited Jackson\u2019s campaigns with laying the foundation for his own historic election victory as the country\u2019s first Black president. <\/p>\n

\u201cReverend Jackson also created opportunities for generations of African Americans and inspired countless more, including us,\u201d said Obama. \u201cMichelle got her first glimpse of political organizing at the Jacksons\u2019 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. <\/p>\n

\u201cMichelle and I will always be grateful for Jesse\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

A host of New York State and city leaders also mourned the passing of Jackson.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis voice helped shape generations of leaders and inspired countless Americans to believe that change is possible,\u201d said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. \u201cWe honor his legacy by continuing the work \u2014 advancing justice; protecting voting rights; expanding opportunity; and ensuring that every community is seen, heard, and valued. May he rest in power, and may his inspiration keep hope alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brooklyn Party Boss and Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn said, \u201cI am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson. A towering figure in the Civil Rights Movement who stood shoulder to shoulder with other legendary leaders in the fight for justice, equality, and the advancement of African Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Rev. Jackson at luncheon for economic summit in March 2022. Credit: Ariama C. Long photo<\/p>\n

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams pointed to Jackson\u2019s sit-in protests and founding of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. \u201cReverend Jackson helped to drive the movement for decades, with each march or boycott or campaign a leg in the longer journey of the ongoing Civil Rights Movement,\u201d Williams said. \u201cHe devoted his life\u2019s work to the liberation of oppressed peoples in many aspects of society. A tireless and dynamic warrior.\u201d<\/p>\n

Staten Island\u2019s Assemblymember Charles Lavine said he was privileged to meet Jackson at a fair housing conference and will always remember his graciousness and dedication. \u201cHe was a great man who fought to make a better America. Now, perhaps more than ever, we must build on his legacy and continue to bravely fight for social change,\u201d said Lavine.<\/p>\n

Across the Hudson, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka recalled witnessing Jackson\u2019s historic presidential run as a teen. \u201cJesse\u2019s life altered history and left us a lasting legacy,\u201d said Baraka. \u201cHe shouted, marched, strategized, organized, and inspired throughout the Civil Rights Movement. His impact will forever be felt, but most importantly, he was a friend to my father and our family. I will always remember their rallying cry: \u2018It\u2019s Nation Time!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Savannah, Ga., Mayor Van R. Johnson II, who also serves as president of the African American Mayors Association, said he and many like him were also affected by Jackson\u2019s campaigns and were familiar with him at their many gatherings.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe African American Mayors Association was honored to welcome Reverend Jackson to our annual conferences, where his wisdom, passion, and unwavering commitment to empowering Black communities inspired mayors from across the nation,\u201d said Johnson in a statement. \u201cHis two historic presidential campaigns opened the door to what is possible for Black leaders in America and became a direct inspiration for so many of us; as he said, if our minds can conceive it, if our hearts can believe it, then we know that we can achieve it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) honored Jackson at its annual National Equal Justice Awards Dinner (NEJAD) last year with the Tribute to the Spirit of Selma Award. \u201cWhile we are utterly saddened by this profound loss, Rev. Jackson\u2019s impact and legacy cannot be overstated,\u201d said LDF President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson in a statement. \u201cHis life\u2019s work opened doors to political participation, expanded the bounds of what justice could look like, and inspired millions across the globe. His legacy will endure in the institutions he built, the movements he empowered, and the generations he emboldened to continue the fight for freedom.\u201d <\/p>\n

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