As Chicago prepares to honor civil rights icon Jesse Jackson with a series of memorial events, communities across the South — including Charlotte — are reflecting on the powerful impact he made nationwide.
While the official services will take place in Chicago, Jackson’s influence extended deeply into the Carolinas, where his early activism and faith leadership helped shape his lifelong commitment to civil rights and economic empowerment.
Chicago Memorial Schedule
The public memorial events include:
- February 26–27: Lying in State beginning at 10 a.m. at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition (930 E. 50th St., Chicago).
- February 27: Celebration of Life from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at House of Hope (752 E. 114th St., Chicago).
Additional services are scheduled in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., before a private homegoing service on March 7.
A Carolina Connection
Though nationally recognized for founding Operation PUSH and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Jackson’s roots trace back to the Carolinas. His early years in the South helped shape his perspective on racial justice, economic inclusion, and community organizing.
In Charlotte — a city with its own strong history of civil rights activism — leaders and residents are honoring Jackson’s legacy through prayer gatherings, church acknowledgments, and public reflections. His work advocating for voting rights, fair housing, and economic opportunity resonated throughout North Carolina communities.
A Lasting Impact
From presidential campaigns in the 1980s to decades of advocacy on issues ranging from education to corporate accountability, Jackson became one of the most recognizable voices for social justice in America.
As Chicago prepares to host the formal services, Charlotte joins cities across the nation in remembering a man whose leadership helped reshape political participation and civil rights progress for generations.
For many in the Queen City, Rev. Jesse Jackson’s legacy is not just history — it is part of the ongoing work toward justice and equality.
(Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
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