Mourners, dignitaries pay respects to Rev. Jesse Jackson on 1st day of visitation at Rainbow PUSH

Late civil rights icon to lie in repose Thursday, Friday in Chicago before traveling to South Carolina

Feb. 26, 2026 at 9:49pm

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Crowds of mourners, including many dignitaries, lined up in Chicago as cross-country memorial services for the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. began Thursday in the city the late civil rights leader called home. The protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate will lie in repose for two days at the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition before events in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina, where he was born.

Why it matters

Rev. Jesse Jackson was a towering figure in the civil rights movement, working alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and continuing his legacy of fighting for racial justice, economic equality, and voter access. His passing marks the end of an era, and the memorial services in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and South Carolina are a chance for the nation to honor his decades of impactful work.

The details

Family members wiped away tears as the casket was brought into the stately brick building of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters. Flowers lined the sidewalks where people waiting to enter watched a large video screen playing excerpts of Jackson's notable speeches. Dignitaries including Rev. Al Sharpton, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Cardinal Blase Cupich were among the first to pay their respects on the first day of visitation.

  • The memorial services for Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. began on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
  • Rev. Jackson will lie in repose at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago on Thursday, February 26 and Friday, February 27, 2026.
  • On Monday, March 2, 2026, Rev. Jackson will lie in repose at the South Carolina State Capitol Rotunda, followed by a church service at Brookland Baptist Church that evening.

The players

Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

A towering figure in the civil rights movement, Rev. Jesse Jackson was a protege of Martin Luther King Jr. and ran for president in 1984 and 1988, leading to a surge in voter registration and the formation of the Rainbow Coalition.

Rev. Al Sharpton

A civil rights activist and Baptist minister who was close with Rev. Jackson, having served as the youth director for Jackson's New York chapel when Sharpton was 13 years old.

Mayor Brandon Johnson

The current mayor of Chicago, who came to pay his respects and honor Rev. Jackson's legacy.

Cardinal Blase Cupich

The Archbishop of Chicago, who offered prayers during the first day of visitation for Rev. Jackson.

Yusef Jackson

One of Rev. Jackson's sons, who said his father is "smiling in heaven right now" and that the memorial services have helped the family to heal and stay strong.

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What they’re saying

“The outpouring of love and support received from around the globe has been abundant and deeply felt.”

— Jackson family members

“Whenever there's a need for my community in particular, he's there. He's the one who is bold enough to step up.”

— Beverly Singleton, Chicago resident

“I feel a mandate to keep hope alive and to remind younger children even older folks we are somebody.”

— Leah Burgess, Howard University, School of Divinity

“No matter the race, the color, he was just there for people.”

— Rosalyn McRay-Lester

“I know my father is smiling in heaven right now, beachside. He loved talking about his work. It's helped heal us and stay strong.”

— Yusef Jackson, Rev. Jesse Jackson's son

What’s next

The memorial services for Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. will continue on Friday, February 27 with additional visitation at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago. His casket will then travel to South Carolina and Washington, D.C. for further memorial events before a final homegoing celebration in Chicago on March 7.

The takeaway

Rev. Jesse Jackson's life and legacy as a civil rights leader, presidential candidate, and champion of the disenfranchised will be honored through these memorial services across the country. His work to expand voter access, fight for economic and racial justice, and uplift marginalized communities has left an indelible mark, and his passing marks the end of an era. The outpouring of grief and tributes from dignitaries and everyday citizens alike underscores the profound impact Rev. Jackson had on the nation.