As Chicago prepares to host memorial services for civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, communities across the country — including Atlanta — are pausing to reflect on his enduring legacy.
While the official services will take place in Chicago, Jackson’s influence stretched far beyond the Midwest. In Atlanta, a city deeply rooted in the civil rights movement, many leaders and residents are recognizing the profound role he played in advancing justice, equality, and economic empowerment nationwide.
Chicago Memorial Schedule
Chicago will host a series of public memorial events beginning:
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February 26–27: Lying in State at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition (930 E. 50th St.) beginning at 10 a.m.
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February 27: Celebration of Life from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at House of Hope (752 E. 114th St.)
Additional services are scheduled in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., before a private homegoing service on March 7.
Atlanta’s Connection
Atlanta, often considered the epicenter of the modern Civil Rights Movement, shares a deep historical connection with Jackson. As a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson carried forward much of the work that was rooted in Atlanta’s legacy of activism and faith-based leadership.
Local pastors, civic leaders, and community organizations throughout metro Atlanta are expected to acknowledge Jackson’s contributions through tributes, moments of prayer, and community discussions. His advocacy for voting rights, corporate accountability, and minority business inclusion resonated strongly within Atlanta’s political and business communities.
A National Voice for Justice
Jackson founded Operation PUSH and later the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago, using those platforms to expand political participation and economic opportunity for underserved communities. His presidential campaigns in the 1980s further elevated conversations around representation and coalition-building.
As Chicago prepares to honor him with public memorial services, Atlanta stands in solidarity — recognizing that Rev. Jesse Jackson’s life and work helped shape the civil rights landscape in cities across America.
For many in Atlanta, his passing marks not just the loss of a leader, but the closing of a historic chapter in the ongoing fight for justice and equality.
(Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
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