Speaker Mike Johnson denies request for Rev. Jesse Jackson to lie in honor in Capitol

The speaker cited past precedent in denying the request from Jackson's family after the civil rights icon's death.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 11:10pm

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Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has denied a request from the family of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson to have the civil rights icon lie in honor in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. The practice of lying in state or honor in the Capitol is typically reserved for former presidents, military leaders, and other top government officials, according to a GOP leadership source. While a handful of private citizens have been granted the honor, recent requests for others like former Vice President Dick Cheney and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk have also been denied.

Why it matters

The decision to deny Jackson's family's request has drawn criticism from Black leaders, who argue that the civil rights legend deserves the honor given his decades of advocacy and activism. The debate highlights the selective nature of who is granted the rare privilege of lying in state or honor in the Capitol.

The details

The speaker looked to past precedent where lying in state or honor in the Capitol has been reserved for former presidents, military leaders and other top officials, a GOP source said. Typically, both the House speaker and the Senate majority leader would need to sign off on any request for someone to lie in state or honor in the Rotunda, and a concurrent resolution would then need to be passed by both chambers.

  • Rev. Jesse Jackson died on Tuesday at the age of 84.
  • Jackson's family made the request to Speaker Mike Johnson after his death.

The players

Mike Johnson

The Republican Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives who denied the request for Rev. Jesse Jackson to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda.

Rev. Jesse Jackson

A civil rights icon and two-time presidential candidate who died at the age of 84.

Derrick Johnson

The President and CEO of the NAACP, who criticized Speaker Mike Johnson's decision to deny the request for Rev. Jesse Jackson to lie in honor.

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What they’re saying

“Mike Johnson will defend a president who wants to unlawfully nationalize elections, but won't authorize a civil rights legend to lie in honor. That tells you everything you need to know about Mike Johnson and his gross disregard for our Constitution and our democracy.”

— Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO (NAACP Statement)

“Rev. Jesse Jackson preached to all Americans to Keep Hope Alive, and to dream of a nation where all people are treated with dignity and respect. No message could be more fitting for all Americans to embrace at this time.”

— Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO (NAACP Statement)

What’s next

The decision to deny Jackson's family's request will likely face continued scrutiny and criticism from civil rights leaders and advocates.

The takeaway

The denial of Rev. Jesse Jackson's family's request to have him lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda highlights the selective and politically-charged nature of who is granted this rare privilege, underscoring the need for a more inclusive and equitable process that recognizes the contributions of all distinguished Americans.