Mourners to Pay Tribute to Rev. Jesse Jackson at Rainbow PUSH Coalition

The civil rights icon will lie in repose for two days at the organization's Chicago headquarters.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 12:49am

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Mourners will have the opportunity to pay their respects to the late Reverend Jesse Jackson this week at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago. Jackson, a renowned civil rights leader who died last week at age 81, will lie in repose for two days at the organization's South Side location. Dignitaries, government officials, and members of the community are expected to visit and honor Jackson's profound legacy of fighting for justice, equality, and human rights.

Why it matters

Reverend Jesse Jackson was a towering figure in the American civil rights movement, working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and continuing the fight for racial equality and social justice. His death marks the end of an era, and the public viewing at Rainbow PUSH Coalition allows the community to collectively mourn and celebrate his life's work.

The details

The public viewing will take place on Thursday and Friday at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in the Kenwood neighborhood of Chicago. Crews have been preparing the building to accommodate the expected thousands of visitors from across the country. After the Chicago viewing, Jackson's body will travel to South Carolina and Washington D.C. for additional memorial services before returning to Chicago for a larger People's Celebration at the House of Hope church on March 6.

  • The public viewing at Rainbow PUSH Coalition will be held on Thursday, February 27 and Friday, February 28.
  • Jackson's body will then move to South Carolina and Washington D.C. for formal services from March 1-4.
  • The People's Celebration at House of Hope in Chicago will take place on March 6.

The players

Reverend Jesse Jackson

A renowned American civil rights leader who worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and dedicated his life to fighting for racial equality, social justice, and human rights.

Rainbow PUSH Coalition

A Chicago-based non-profit organization founded by Reverend Jesse Jackson that advocates for social change and economic empowerment in the African American community.

Debbie Mitchem

A long-time volunteer at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition who has been involved with the organization for decades and whose two sons grew up learning about activism within the building.

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What they’re saying

“We are family all of us, the Rainbow family and all of us and the whole world was family to him.”

— Debbie Mitchem, Rainbow PUSH Coalition volunteer (NBC Chicago)

“I just feel his spirit, he's always going to be here and we all got to go sometime, but he left us with 'I am somebody'.”

— Debbie Mitchem, Rainbow PUSH Coalition volunteer (NBC Chicago)

What’s next

The public viewing at Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters will be followed by formal memorial services in South Carolina and Washington D.C. from March 1-4, before a larger People's Celebration is held at the House of Hope church in Chicago on March 6.

The takeaway

Reverend Jesse Jackson's passing marks the end of an era, but his profound legacy of fighting for civil rights, equality, and human dignity will continue to inspire generations to come. The public viewings and memorial services provide an opportunity for the community to collectively mourn and celebrate his life's work.