Thousands gathered in Chicago on March 6, 2026, for a public homegoing service honoring civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died at age 84 last month. Former Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Bill Clinton joined other luminaries to celebrate Jackson's legacy of advocacy for equality and justice. The event at the House of Hope megachurch featured speeches, music, and tributes highlighting his influence on politics and civil rights.
The celebration of life for Rev. Jesse Jackson took place at the House of Hope on Chicago's South Side, drawing crowds that waited in long lines outside as screens played excerpts of his famous speeches. Vendors sold items featuring Jackson's 1984 presidential slogan and his 'I Am Somebody' mantra. The service, delayed by more than 30 minutes as attendees greeted one another, began with the crowd chanting 'I am! Somebody!' as former Presidents Obama, Biden, and Clinton entered to loud applause.
Barack Obama spoke of Jackson's 1980s presidential runs, saying they set the stage for Black leaders, including his own 2008 election. 'The message he sent to a 22-year-old child of a single mother with a funny name, an outsider, was that maybe there wasn’t any place or any room where we didn’t belong,' Obama said. 'He paved the road for so many others to follow.' He added, 'We are living in a time when it can be hard to hope,' referencing assaults on democratic institutions and fear-mongering by those in high office.
Bill Clinton said Jackson made him a better president: 'He knew change came from the inside out.' Former Vice President Kamala Harrison also addressed the crowd. Other speakers included Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Rev. Al Sharpton, and NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas. Performances featured Jennifer Hudson singing 'A Change Gonna Come,' along with gospel artists Bebe Winans and Marvin Winans.
Notable attendees included California Gov. Gavin Newsom, actor Tyler Perry, Sen. Dick Durbin, and Mr. T. Jesse Jackson Jr. emphasized inclusivity: 'Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative... his life is broad enough to cover the full spectrum of what it means to be an American.'
Jackson, who died on February 17 from a rare neurological disorder, founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and advocated globally for voting rights, health care, and job opportunities. His son Yusef Jackson said, 'He lived a revolutionary Christian faith rooted in justice... It takes two wings to fly. For him, the goal was always the moral center.' The event follows services in Chicago and South Carolina, with a private service planned for Saturday and burial at Oak Woods Cemetery. A request for Jackson to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol rotunda was denied by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
