Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist and former presidential candidate, died on February 17 at the age of 84. His family made the announcement in a statement on social media, describing him as a “servant leader” with an “unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love.”
A longtime associate of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jackson was a member of the “Greenville Eight”, who protested the city’s segregated library system in 1960 and played an early role with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He founded the social justice organization Operation PUSH in 1971, which later merged with his Rainbow Coalition to form the Rainbow Push Coalition. He met with Pope John Paul II on three separate occasions and once described the pope as “the dominant force and moral authority in the world” when asking him to advocate on behalf of Haitian refugees.
He was a staunch pro-life advocate early in his career, endorsing a U.S. Constitutional amendment banning abortion, before ultimately becoming a supporter of legalized abortion. Even though he did not share all policy positions of the Church, Catholic leaders praised Jackson’s work on racial justice.
Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of Austin, Texas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation, said in written comments to OSV News, “As an advocate for racial justice and a central figure in the civil rights movement, Rev. Jesse Jackson played a key role in securing equal rights for African Americans and offered prophetic witness to the dignity of people of all racial backgrounds.”
“He inspired generations to pursue racial justice, love goodness, and walk humbly with God. My prayers are with his family and close collaborators — may his legacy continue to inspire, guide and uplift all who strive for a more just world and an end to racism,” Bishop Garcia said.