Attorney Jeffery Leving Mourns Death of Rev. Jesse Jackson

Leving calls Jackson a "great leader" on civil rights, education, and lifting people out of poverty

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Attorney Jeffery M. Leving has issued a statement mourning the death of his friend, civil rights leader Rev. Jesse L. Jackson. Leving praised Jackson as a "great leader" who advanced racial equality and equal opportunity through his work as an organizer, and as a man of deep faith who took action to make the world a better place.

Why it matters

Rev. Jesse Jackson was a towering figure in the civil rights movement, known for his activism, advocacy, and work to address issues of poverty and inequality. His passing marks the end of an era and the loss of a prominent voice for social justice.

The details

In his statement, Leving described Jackson as a "skilled organizer" who "directly and personally advanced the cause of racial equality and equal opportunity." Leving also noted that Jackson "worked with presidents and prisoners to keep hope alive" and was "a man of deep faith and prayer who took action to make the world a better place."

  • Rev. Jesse L. Jackson passed away on February 17, 2026.

The players

Jeffery M. Leving

An attorney who was a friend of Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson

A prominent civil rights leader who dedicated his life to advancing racial equality and addressing issues of poverty and inequality.

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What they’re saying

“The world lost a great leader today: A leader on civil rights, a leader on education, a leader on lifting people out of poverty and despair – and I lost a great friend. He was a skilled organizer, who directly and personally advanced the cause of racial equality and equal opportunity. He worked with presidents and prisoners to keep hope alive. He was a man of deep faith and prayer who took action to make the world a better place. May God bless the soul of my friend, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson.”

— Jeffery M. Leving, Attorney (suburbanchicagoland.com)

The takeaway

Rev. Jesse Jackson's passing marks the end of an era for the civil rights movement, but his legacy of activism, advocacy, and commitment to social justice will continue to inspire others to carry on his work.