From Activism to Immortality: Tributes Flow as Jesse Jackson is Laid to Rest March 7

Eulogies are flooding in for civil rights giant Jesse L. Jackson, following a lifetime of activism and political trailblazing.

Persecondnews reports that as a close protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. and a two-time U.S. presidential contender, Jackson’s legacy as a champion for equality and a voice for the marginalized is being celebrated globally.

Aged 84, the revered civil rights icon who passed away on February 17, 2026, will be laid to rest on Saturday, March 7, 2026, marking the final chapter in a lifetime dedicated to equality and justice.

According to funeral activities released by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he will lie in state at the organisation’s headquarters in Chicago on Thursday, February 26, 2026, and Friday, February 27, 2026, with doors opening to the public at 10:00 a.m. each day.

The venue is situated at 930 E. 50th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60615.

Persecondnews also reports that Jesse Jackson ranked among the most powerful voices of the modern civil rights movement.

For decades he championed racial equality, economic fairness, voting rights and full social inclusion, shaping national conversations on justice and opportunity.

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition has unveiled a full calendar of public tributes and memorial gatherings to celebrate his extraordinary life and lasting impact, with major events centred in Chicago and additional sites across the United States.

Formal memorial services are scheduled between March 1 and March 4, 2026, in South Carolina and Washington, D.C.

A grand public “People’s Celebration” honouring his legacy will take place on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the House of Hope in Chicago, where doors open at 9:00 a.m.

Private homegoing services — the actual burial — are set for Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Rainbow PUSH headquarters.

Organizers have confirmed that livestreams will be provided for the public, with full registration and viewing instructions to be released shortly through the official memorial platforms.

Well-wishers have been invited to honour Jackson’s work by directing charitable gifts toward continued social justice programmes and community development efforts.

Family members, political figures and fellow civil rights advocates are expected to come together at these events to pay final respects and reflect on the end of an era in America’s long struggle for social justice.

Here are some of the tributes to the Rev. Jesse Jackson from world leaders and activists.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu: “Jesse Jackson did not just dream; he organized. He taught us that ‘Keeping Hope Alive’ is not a passive act, but a rigorous daily commitment to justice. Nigeria loses a true friend, and the world loses its conscience.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton (US): “Today, I lost the man who first called me into purpose when I was just twelve years old. And our nation lost one of its greatest moral voices. The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson was not simply a civil rights leader; he was a movement unto himself. He carried history in his footsteps and hope in his voice. One of the greatest honors of my life was learning at his side. He reminded me that faith without action is just noise. He taught me that protest must have purpose, that faith must have feet, and that justice is not seasonal, it is daily work.”

Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama “Reverend Jackson helped lead some of the most significant movements for change in human history. … Reverend Jackson also created opportunities for generations of African Americans and inspired countless more, including us. Michelle got her first glimpse of political organizing at the Jacksons’ kitchen table when she was a teenager. And in his two historic runs for president, he laid the foundation for my own campaign to the highest office in the land.”

President Donald Trump:”I knew him well, long before becoming President. He was a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and ‘street smarts.’ He was very gregarious – Someone who truly loved people! … Jesse was a force of nature like few others before him.”

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton: “We were friends for almost fifty years since we met in 1977 at the 20th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High. … Reverend Jackson championed human dignity and helped create opportunities for countless people to live better lives. Throughout it all, he kept marching to the music of his conscience, his convictions, and his causes.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: “The Reverend Jackson lent his powerful voice to the U.N. to work against racism, against apartheid, and for human rights, including taking part in a number of events here at U.N. headquarters.” — in a statement from U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa: “His campaigns for an end to apartheid included disinvestment from the apartheid economy and challenging the support the regime enjoyed in certain circles and institutions internationally.”