Rev. Jesse Jackson, the former Shadow DC Senator and farmed civil rights activist, will be honored Monday at the Democratic National Convention.
Jackson, 82, whose powerful voice has been largely silenced by Parkinson’s disease, will be honored onstage at the United Center in Chicago alongside his son and fellow delegate Rep. Jonathan Jackson.
Monday is the first night of the 2024 DNC with a “For the People” theme. As a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Jackson’s activism began in the 1960s when he became involved with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
He was a key figure in the SCLC’s Operation Breadbasket, which aimed to improve economic conditions for African Americans by advocating for fair employment and wages.
After King’s assassination in 1968, Jackson continued to advocate for civil rights and founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) in 1971. The organization …