Chicago Mayor Honors Legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson

Brandon Johnson credits civil rights leader as a mentor who helped shape his political career.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 6:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson remembered the late Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday as an indefatigable organizer, fighter for justice, and personal mentor who played a pivotal role in Johnson's path to becoming mayor. Johnson said he would not be leading the city if not for Jackson's guidance and the civil rights leader's lasting impact on the progressive movement.

Why it matters

Rev. Jesse Jackson was a towering figure in the civil rights movement and a influential voice for social and economic justice. His death marks the passing of an era, and Mayor Johnson's tribute highlights Jackson's enduring influence on a new generation of progressive leaders in cities like Chicago.

The details

Mayor Johnson recounted how Jackson embraced his potential early on and advised him, including telling Johnson that if he got a haircut and put on a suit, "you just might become a good politician one day." Johnson also spoke of accompanying Jackson to Selma, Alabama to commemorate Bloody Sunday, the 1965 march that became a pivotal moment in the fight for voting rights. The mayor said Jackson's lessons on the difficulty of organizing people toward justice, but also the importance of persisting, continue to inspire him.

  • Rev. Jesse Jackson passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the age of 84.
  • Mayor Johnson's comments were made on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

The players

Brandon Johnson

The current mayor of Chicago who credits Rev. Jesse Jackson as a personal mentor and influential figure in shaping his political career.

Rev. Jesse Jackson

A legendary civil rights leader, activist, and Baptist minister who was a key figure in the African-American community's struggle for racial equality and economic justice.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“When I first came into contact with Reverend Jackson, the way he just embraced my humanity, he embraced what he saw in me — which was an incredible amount of potential, and, you know his life will forever be marked in my family's life as a clear marker of when my life began to shift and change politically, as a father as a husband, and of course, as a human being.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago (CBS News Chicago)

“What he said to me was that, you know, when the when the victory is won, there will be many who will claim to have been on that bridge. But he said that in reality, it's difficult to organize people toward justice. But he said, just stick to it, because even if it's just a few of us, to get to that bridge and therefore cross it.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago (CBS News Chicago)

What’s next

Mayor Johnson did not indicate any specific next steps related to honoring Rev. Jesse Jackson's legacy.

The takeaway

Rev. Jesse Jackson's lifelong commitment to civil rights, social justice, and grassroots organizing left an indelible mark on a new generation of progressive leaders like Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who credits Jackson as a personal mentor and inspiration for his own political career.