Civil Rights Icon Jesse Jackson Lies in State at South Carolina Capitol

Jackson's final honors in the state where he was born mark a stark contrast to his segregated childhood in Greenville.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., a renowned civil rights leader who fought for equality and justice throughout his long career, is being honored with a lying in state ceremony at the South Carolina State Capitol on Monday. This final tribute in the state where he was born is a far cry from his childhood in segregated Greenville, where he was once arrested for sitting in the whites-only library branch.

Why it matters

Jackson's life and work were pivotal in advancing the civil rights movement after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. His advocacy for the poor, underrepresented, and disenfranchised left a lasting impact, and his homegoing in South Carolina symbolizes the progress made since the days of Jim Crow segregation.

The details

Jackson's casket, draped in an American flag, arrived at the South Carolina Statehouse on a horse-drawn caisson. A special honor guard brought him inside, where over 100 people gathered for a ceremony before the public paid their respects. The service began with a rousing rendition of the civil rights anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing." Jackson is just the second Black man to lie in state at the South Carolina Capitol, following state Sen. Clementa Pinckney in 2015.

  • Jackson died on February 17, 2026 at the age of 84.
  • His body lay in repose at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago last week.
  • The South Carolina services are part of two weeks of events honoring Jackson's life and legacy.

The players

Jesse Jackson Sr.

A renowned civil rights leader who fought for equality and justice throughout his long career, including leading the voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery with Martin Luther King Jr.

Jermaine Johnson

A Democratic state representative who led the ceremony honoring Jackson at the South Carolina Statehouse.

Clementa Pinckney

A state senator who was the first Black man to lie in state at the South Carolina Capitol, after he was killed in the 2015 Charleston church shooting.

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What they’re saying

“Today we're here to celebrate a life well lived, a job well done.”

— Jermaine Johnson, Democratic state representative

What’s next

After the South Carolina services, Jackson's body will be returned to Chicago for a large celebration of life gathering at a megachurch and the final homegoing services at the headquarters of Rainbow PUSH. Plans for a service in Washington, D.C., to honor him have been postponed until a later date.

The takeaway

Jesse Jackson's homegoing in South Carolina, the state where he was born and faced segregation as a child, represents the progress made in the civil rights movement he helped lead. His lifelong advocacy for the marginalized and disenfranchised left an indelible mark, and his final tributes honor his legacy as a trailblazing champion of equality and justice.