Civil Rights Icon Jesse Jackson Championed Environmental Justice

Jackson connected conservation, clean air and safe drinking water to civil rights causes throughout his career.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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The late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson was a trailblazer in bringing environmental justice issues to the forefront of national politics. Through his presidential campaigns and advocacy work, Jackson highlighted how pollution, toxic waste, and lack of access to clean water disproportionately impacted marginalized communities. Jackson's influence inspired environmental justice advocates like Peggy Shepard and Cheryl Johnson, who continued his fight for equitable environmental protections.

Why it matters

Jackson's vision for environmental justice connected the civil rights movement to issues of conservation, clean air, and safe drinking water. By centering these concerns, he helped elevate environmental justice as a critical social justice issue. Jackson's advocacy work paved the way for landmark policies and programs, like the Biden administration's American Climate Corps, that aim to address environmental disparities in underserved communities.

The details

In his 1988 presidential campaign, Jackson made environmental justice a key part of his platform, calling for policies to phase out offshore oil drilling, nuclear energy, and tailpipe pollution. He also advocated for federal programs to restore wetlands and forests. Jackson's environmental justice work continued in his later years, as he drew connections between issues like the water crisis in Flint, Michigan and historic segregation in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. Jackson's influence inspired environmental justice advocates like Peggy Shepard and Cheryl Johnson, who credit him with shaping their careers and activism.

  • In the late 1980s, Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign brought environmental justice issues to the national stage.
  • In 2016, Jackson declared that officials should put "tape around the city" of Flint, Michigan, because the water crisis there was "a crime scene".
  • In 2024, Jackson made his last public appearance in Flint to visit the Flint Southwestern Classical Academy and highlight the importance of voting.

The players

Jesse Jackson

A civil rights titan from South Carolina who altered the course of environmental justice advocacy through his presidential campaigns and activism.

Peggy Shepard

The co-founder and executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, a New York City-based nonprofit. Shepard credits Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign with inspiring her environmental justice work.

Cheryl Johnson

The director of the Chicago-based environmental justice nonprofit People for Community Recovery. Johnson grew up inspired by Jackson's civil rights advocacy and had discussions with him about environmental issues in Chicago.

Hazel Johnson

The founder of People for Community Recovery and one of the first environmental justice advocates in the country, who worked with Jackson during the Clinton administration.

Melissa Mays

A longtime Flint, Michigan resident and clean water activist who filed a lawsuit against the city for the Flint water crisis. Mays developed a friendship with Jackson after he unexpectedly showed up to support her lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“Immediately tears started coming,”

— Peggy Shepard, co-founder and executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice (wbez.org)

“I always remember he would say, 'up with hope, down with dope.'”

— Cheryl Johnson, director of People for Community Recovery (wbez.org)

“He was not afraid of anybody,”

— Melissa Mays (wbez.org)

What’s next

Jackson's environmental justice legacy continues to inspire advocates and shape policy, even after his passing. Lawmakers and community groups are likely to honor his memory and carry on his work in the years to come.

The takeaway

Jesse Jackson's lifelong commitment to civil rights and social justice extended to the environmental realm, where he recognized the disproportionate impact of pollution, toxic waste, and lack of access to clean water on marginalized communities. His advocacy work paved the way for the modern environmental justice movement and continues to inspire a new generation of activists fighting for equitable environmental protections.