Speaker Johnson denies Rev. Jackson family request to lie in honor at U.S. Capitol

Alternative locations in Washington, D.C. are being explored as the Congressional Black Caucus continues to pursue options.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has declined a request by Rev. Jesse Jackson's family to have the civil rights leader lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol. However, the family is exploring alternative locations in Washington, D.C., including Howard University, the Washington National Cathedral, or the National Museum of African American History. The Congressional Black Caucus is also actively pursuing options for Jackson to have a Capitol viewing.

Why it matters

Lying in honor at the U.S. Capitol is a rare and high honor reserved for private citizens, and the denial of the Jackson family's request highlights the strict precedents and protocols around such ceremonies. The ongoing efforts to find an alternative location in Washington reflect the significance of honoring Jackson's legacy as a prominent civil rights leader.

The details

Speaker Johnson's denial fell in line with past precedents set for officials in the Rotunda of the Capitol. The family is also planning for Jackson to lie in honor at the state Capitol in South Carolina, making him the first African-American to do so. There is still an effort to see whether Jackson could lie in honor in another part of the Capitol, such as the Old Supreme Court Chamber, the entrance to the House Chamber, or the East Central Front Portico, which have all been used for those who have laid in state or honor.

  • Jackson will lie in state Thursday, Feb. 26, and Friday, Feb. 27, at Rainbow PUSH's Kenwood headquarters in Chicago.
  • A 'People's Celebration' in Chicago will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 6, at House of Hope.
  • Private homegoing services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7, at Rainbow PUSH in Chicago.

The players

Mike Johnson

The U.S. House Speaker who denied the Jackson family's request for Rev. Jesse Jackson to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol.

Jesse Jackson

The prominent civil rights leader and Chicago icon who passed away at the age of 84.

Congressional Black Caucus

The group that is actively pursuing options for Jackson to have a Capitol viewing.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President who extended his sympathies following Jackson's death.

Jimmy Carter

The former U.S. President who was the last person to lie in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

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What they’re saying

“I knew him well, long before becoming President. He was very gregarious — Someone who truly loved people! Despite the fact that I am falsely and consistently called a Racist by the Scoundrels and Lunatics on the Radical Left, Democrats ALL, it was always my pleasure to help Jesse along the way.”

— Donald Trump (suntimes.com)

What’s next

The Congressional Black Caucus is actively pursuing options for Jackson to have a Capitol viewing and will return to Washington next week for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address.

The takeaway

The denial of the Jackson family's request to have Rev. Jesse Jackson lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol highlights the strict protocols around such ceremonies, but the ongoing efforts to find an alternative location in Washington reflect the significance of honoring Jackson's legacy as a prominent civil rights leader.