Statement on the Decision Not to Honor Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. at the Nation’s Capital

The decision to deny the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. the opportunity to lie in honor at the United States Capitol and to decline lowering the American flag to half-staff in recognition of his passing is deeply disappointing and profoundly troubling.

Rev. Jackson was one of the most consequential civil rights leaders of the modern era. As a close ally of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he stood on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for voting rights, economic justice, labor rights, and equal opportunity. From his leadership in Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition to his historic presidential campaigns that expanded civic participation and inspired millions, Rev. Jackson dedicated his life to building a more inclusive and just America.

He was instrumental in advancing political empowerment for marginalized communities, championing corporate accountability, expanding voter registration efforts, and elevating issues of poverty and racial inequality to the national stage. His work helped shape generations of leaders and broadened the promise of democracy to include those long excluded from its full benefits.

The honor of lying in state or in honor at the Capitol has been extended not only to presidents and military leaders, but also to distinguished civilians whose contributions profoundly shaped the nation. Civil rights icon Rosa Parks lay in honor in 2005. Reverend Billy Graham was similarly honored in 2018. Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis lay in state in 2020. These recognitions acknowledged that service to the nation through moral courage and social transformation is as vital as any other form of public service.

Rev. Jesse Jackson’s lifelong commitment to justice, equality, and democracy warrants that same level of national respect. To withhold such recognition diminishes not only his legacy, but also the broader history of the Civil Rights Movement and the countless Americans whose lives were changed by his advocacy.

We call upon our national leaders to reflect on the magnitude of Rev. Jackson’s contributions and to ensure that his life’s work is honored in a manner befitting his historic impact on this nation.