Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson to Lie in State in South Carolina

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The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., a renowned civil rights activist, will be honored at the South Carolina capitol next Monday, where his body will lie in state. Jackson, who passed away on February 17 at the age of 84, will first lie in repose this week at the Chicago headquarters of his Rainbow PUSH Coalition before being transported to South Carolina and then Washington, D.C. for additional celebrations of his life.

Why it matters

As a key figure in the civil rights movement and a two-time presidential candidate, Jesse Jackson's passing marks the end of an era. His life and work had a profound impact on the fight for racial equality, and honoring him at the South Carolina Statehouse, where his activism began in high school, is a fitting tribute to his legacy.

The details

Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina in 1941 and was the quarterback at the segregated Sterling High School. In 1960, he led seven of his Black classmates into the whites-only public library in Greenville, where they sat and read books and magazines until they were arrested. This act of civil disobedience was the start of Jackson's long career as a civil rights activist and protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. Jackson went on to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.

• Jackson's body will lie in state at the South Carolina Statehouse on Monday, February 26, 2026.
• Jackson's body will lie in repose this week at the Chicago headquarters of his Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
• A public service will be held in Chicago at House of Hope, a 10,000-seat church, on March 6, 2026, followed by private homegoing services the next day at Rainbow PUSH.

What’s next

The public service in Chicago at House of Hope on March 6, 2026 and the private homegoing services the next day at Rainbow PUSH will provide additional opportunities for the public to honor Jesse Jackson's legacy.