Illinois Lawmaker Proposes Renaming Dan Ryan Expressway Segment After Rev. Jesse L. Jackson

Rep. Kam Buckner introduces legislation to designate portion of highway as 'Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Memorial Highway'

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:04pm

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In a move to honor the life and legacy of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner has introduced legislation that would rename a stretch of the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago as the 'Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Memorial Highway'. The proposed designation would cover the portion of the highway running through several historic Black neighborhoods on the city's South Side.

Why it matters

The Dan Ryan Expressway has long been viewed as a physical dividing line between predominantly Black and white neighborhoods in Chicago, with its construction displacing homes and businesses and reshaping long-established communities. Renaming a segment of the highway after Rev. Jackson, a Chicago native who spent decades bringing people together across communities and movements, is seen as a symbolic gesture to honor his legacy of connection and bridge-building.

The details

House Bill 5726 proposes renaming the stretch of the Dan Ryan Expressway between 47th Street and 95th Street as the 'Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Memorial Highway'. The legislation must first be considered in committee before advancing to the full Illinois House for a vote. If passed by the House, the bill would then move to the Illinois Senate for consideration. Should both chambers approve the legislation, it would be sent to the governor for signature before the designation could take effect.

  • On March 11, 2026, Rep. Kam Buckner announced the introduction of the legislation.
  • The bill must first be considered in committee before advancing to the full Illinois House for a vote.

The players

Rep. Kam Buckner

An Illinois state representative who represents the 26th district and has introduced the legislation to rename a portion of the Dan Ryan Expressway after Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.

A civil rights leader and Chicago native who spent decades bringing people together across communities and movements, and whose legacy the proposed highway renaming seeks to honor.

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What they’re saying

“That corridor isn't just concrete. It's a front porch for Black Chicago. It's Bronzeville, Greater Grand Crossing, Chatham, Roseland — generations of families, churches, small businesses, organizers and everyday people who built this city, even when the city was not built for them.”

— Rep. Kam Buckner, Illinois State Representative (Instagram)

“Rev. Jackson spent his life connecting people — across neighborhoods, across movements, across this country and across this world. So, it feels fitting that a road which once represented division should carry the name of one of our greatest bridge builders.”

— Rep. Kam Buckner, Illinois State Representative (Instagram)

What’s next

The proposed legislation must first be considered in committee before advancing to the full Illinois House for a vote. If passed by the House, the bill would then move to the Illinois Senate for consideration. Should both chambers approve the legislation, it would be sent to the governor for signature before the 'Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Memorial Highway' designation could take effect.

The takeaway

The effort to rename a portion of the Dan Ryan Expressway after Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. represents a symbolic gesture to honor the civil rights leader's legacy of bringing people together and bridging divides, particularly in the context of a highway that has long been seen as a physical dividing line in Chicago's urban landscape.