US EditionFormer US presidents attend Jesse Jackson memorial in Chicago
Thousands gathered at Chicago's House of Hope to honor Jesse Jackson's legacy as a civil rights advocate, with former presidents highlighting his impact on voting rights and social justice.
- On March 6, 2026, former U.S. Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton joined thousands at a public memorial for Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope, a 10,000-seat venue on Chicago's South Side.
- His decades of activism included mobilizing millions under the Rainbow Coalition, and Dailey said `He pried open windows for other people in his insistence on opening the political process to more and more people`.
- The service began with attendees chanting `I am somebody`, while performers included Jennifer Hudson, BeBe Winans, and Pastor Marvin Winans, with many dignitaries present.
- Some academics said the gathering could be interpreted as a protest against pressure on diversity and civil-rights initiatives from the Trump administration, and a White House official said President Donald Trump did not attend due to his schedule and ongoing events.
- The broader cultural context includes federal moves such as supporting the restoration of Confederate monuments and educational content on slavery, as noted in the statements. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson praised Jackson's legacy during the memorial.
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95 Articles
Thousands honor Rev. Jesse Jackson’s life and legacy at Chicago homegoing
By Ashleigh Fields Special to the AFRO World leaders, dignitaries and activists were among those who gathered March 6 to celebrate the life of the Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr., who served as a minister and activist-leader to the masses and died Feb. 17 at the age of 84. People gather before the Public Homegoing Service for the Rev. Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope in Chicago, March 6, 2026. Credit: AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh Thousands convened in Chicago’s…
Former presidents remember late Rev. Jesse Jackson during memorial
Editor's Note: The video above aired in a previous newscast. CHICAGO (AP) — From former presidents to an NBA Hall of Famer to prominent pastors, stories of the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s influence on politics, corporate boardrooms and picket lines loomed large Friday at a celebration honoring the late civil rights leader. The public tribute — with [...]
The Toronto Star
Former Democratic presidents remember the late Rev. Jesse Jackson during final public tribute
CHICAGO (AP) — From former presidents to an NBA Hall of Famer to prominent pastors, stories of the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s influence on politics, corporate boardrooms and picket lines
Obama calls on Americans to 'step up' like Jesse Jackson for a better future
“We are living in a time when it can be hard to hope,” Obama said Friday at the final public tribute to Rev. Jesse Jackson. “Each day we wake up to some new assault to our democratic institutions. Another setback to the idea of the rule of law, an offense to common decency. Every day you wake up to things you just didn’t think were possible.”
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