President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Chicago to deliver a tribute to US civil rights leader, Rev. Dr Jesse Jackson. Ramaphosa arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Friday ahead of Rev. Jackson’s private funeral on Saturday.
He will deliver his tribute during the Private Homegoing Celebration at the Rainbow Push Coalition headquarters at 10am local time (6pm South African time). This follows Jackson’s public funeral service, which was held at the House of Hope church in Chicago on Friday.
Jesse Jackson’s Legacy
Jackson passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84. Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the passing of Rev. Jackson. “Rev. Jesse Jackson’s irrepressible campaigns against apartheid and his support for the liberation struggle was a towering contribution to the global anti-apartheid cause,” the Presidency said in a statement.
In 2013, Jackson was awarded South Africa’s National Order of the Companions of OR Tambo in Silver for dedicating his life to challenge societies and governments to recognise that all people are born equal, and that everyone is in equal measure entitled to life, liberty, prosperity and human rights.
Civil Rights Activism
A close associate of Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Jesse Jackson spent more than six decades amplifying African American voices on the national stage. Known for his staunch commitment to social justice, Jackson witnessed pivotal moments in the fight for racial equality — from standing in Memphis after King’s assassination to celebrating Barack Obama’s 2008 election and supporting George Floyd’s family following the 2021 conviction of his killer.
Some of his notable achievements include:
- Founding Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition
- Running for president twice in the 1980s and forcing African American issues onto the Democratic Party platform
- Receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000
Despite personal challenges, including his battle with Parkinson’s disease, Jackson remained a steadfast voice for justice, famously declaring, “It’s a long struggle for racial equality in this country.” For more information on Jesse Jackson’s life and legacy, visit NAACP or Rainbow Push Coalition.
