Extend the sympathy of the Legislature to the family of national civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson.

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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Frazier, Mumford, DuPree,
Gillespie Isom, Thomas, Blackmon, Simmons
(13th), Simmons (12th), Turner-Ford, Hickman,
Brumfield, Jackson, Pope, Barnett, Norwood

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 533

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE SYMPATHY OF THE 1
LEGISLATURE TO THE FAMILY OF NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS ICON REVEREND 2
JESSE L. JACKSON, SR., ON HIS PASSING. 3
WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi mourns the passing of 4
Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., a transformative leader whose 5
life's work is deeply woven into the history of the nation; and 6
WHEREAS, Jesse Jackson was a towering civil rights icon who 7
battled alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., negotiated global 8
hostage releases and shamed corporations for their lack of 9
corporate diversity and failure to support voting rights. He was 10
84; and 11
WHEREAS, Reverend Jackson was a lifelong soldier for justice. 12
As a young organizer in the 1960s, he labored alongside NAACP 13
leaders, spoke at several national conventions, marched with 14
members, and helped expand the national movement for racial 15
equality into a broad, people-powered coalition, demanding 16
systemic change. 17
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WHEREAS, Reverend Jackson's passing marks the loss of a 18
towering moral voice, but the movement he helped build will carry 19
his light forward. His legacy calls each of us to stay committed, 20
stay organized, and remain faithful to the pursuit of justice; and 21
WHEREAS, President Donald Trump extended sympathies to the 22
family of the Reverend Jesse Jackson following his death and 23
called the civil rights leader a "force of nature like few others 24
before him." "He was a good man, with lots of personality, grit, 25
and "street smarts," President Trump wrote. "He was gregarious, 26
someone who truly loved people!" The President listed policies 27
enacted during his two administrations that he said Jackson 28
supported, including criminal justice reform, more funding for 29
historically black colleges and universities, and "Opportunity 30
Zones," which are tax incentives that aim to spur economic 31
development in low-income areas and were created through the 2017 32
tax reform legislation. Jackson "loved his family greatly, and to 33
them I send my deepest sympathies and condolences. Jesse will be 34
missed"; and 35
WHEREAS, Jackson was a Presidential Medal of Freedom 36
recipient, a two-time Democratic presidential candidate and a 37
mentor to many civil rights leaders; and 38
WHEREAS, U.S. House Representative Bennie Thompson, D-Miss, 39
issued a statement Tuesday, February 17, describing Jackson as "a 40
transformative leader whose life and legacy reshaped the fight for 41
civil rights, social justice and equality in America." "Reverand 42
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Jackson's footprints are across Mississippi and the South, working 43
to make life better for countless families," Thompson wrote. 44
"From advocating for residents in the Sugar Ditch community in 45
Tunica, to supporting the historic Mule Train March from Marks to 46
Washington, D.C., to marching alongside students from Jackson 47
State University to the Hinds County Courthouse to register to 48
vote, Reverend Jackson helped inspire meaningful change across our 49
state and nation. He also played a vital role in encouraging the 50
election of hundreds of Black elected officials throughout 51
Mississippi"; and 52
WHEREAS, Jackson Mayor John Horhn mourned the loss of 53
Jackson, saying he knew Jackson personally and saw firsthand his 54
belief that everyday people could drive real change, as well as 55
his constant call to "keep hope alive" during difficult times. 56
"Reverend Jesse Jackson was a giant of the American story and a 57
moral voice for the world. From the streets of the Civil Rights 58
Movement to the halls of power, he devoted his life to confronting 59
injustice, expanding democracy, and calling this nation to live up 60
to its highest ideals," Horhn said in the statement. Horhn said 61
that Jackson helped expand voting access, break down barriers and 62
bring people together around civil rights causes. "On behalf of 63
the City of Jackson, I extend my condolences to his wife, 64
Jacqueline, their children, the entire Jackson family, and the 65
Rainbow PUSH Coalition family," Horhn said. "May we honor 66
Reverend Jackson by continuing the work to which he gave his life, 67
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expanding opportunity, protecting the right to vote, and bending 68
the arc of history toward justice"; and 69
WHEREAS, Jesse Jackson was a civil rights activist, a pioneer 70
for inclusivity and a two-time presidential candidate. "More than 71
any of those things, said Senator Hillman Frazier, 72
Democrat-Jackson, he was a friend." Senator Frazier met Jackson 73
several times in Jackson and Washington, D.C. Jackson had 74
identified Mississippi's capital city as a "ground zero for the 75
growing Civil Rights Movement, Frazier said, and made a point of 76
visiting the city often for speeches and voter engagement"; and 77
WHEREAS, Jackson was a Presidential Medal of Freedom 78
recipient, a two-time Democratic presidential candidate and a 79
mentor to many civil rights leaders. 80
WHEREAS, U.S. House Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss, issued a 81
statement Tuesday, Feb. 17, describing Jackson as "a 82
transformative leader whose life and legacy reshaped the fight for 83
civil rights, social justice and equality in America." "Rev. 84
Jackson's footprints are across Mississippi and the South, working 85
to make life better for countless families," Thompson wrote. 86
"From advocating for residents in the Sugar Ditch community in 87
Tunica, to supporting the historic Mule Train March from Marks to 88
Washington, D.C., to marching alongside students from Jackson 89
State University to the Hinds County Courthouse to register to 90
vote, Rev. Jackson helped inspire meaningful change across our 91
state and nation. He also played a vital role in encouraging the 92
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election of hundreds of Black elected officials throughout 93
Mississippi"; and 94
WHEREAS, Jackson Mayor John Horhn mourned the loss of 95
Jackson, saying he knew Jackson personally and saw firsthand his 96
belief that everyday people could drive real change, as well as 97
his constant call to "keep hope alive" during difficult times. 98
"Reverend Jesse Jackson was a giant of the American story and a 99
moral voice for the world. From the streets of the Civil Rights 100
Movement to the halls of power, he devoted his life to confronting 101
injustice, expanding democracy, and calling this nation to live up 102
to its highest ideals," Horhn said in the statement. Horhn said 103
Jackson helped expand voting access, break down barriers and bring 104
people together around civil rights causes. "On behalf of the 105
City of Jackson, I extend my condolences to his wife, Jacqueline, 106
their children, the entire Jackson family, and the Rainbow PUSH 107
Coalition family," Horhn said. "May we honor Reverend Jackson by 108
continuing the work to which he gave his life, expanding 109
opportunity, protecting the right to vote, and bending the arc of 110
history toward justice"; and 111
WHEREAS, since the news of his death, people have been 112
reminiscing about their favorite Jesse Jackson moments in pop 113
culture. Among them is his 1991 appearance on Saturday Night 114
Live. On the comedy program, Jackson paid tribute to famed author 115
Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Seuss Geisel, who had recently passed away 116
at the time; and 117
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ST: Extend the sympathy of the Legislature to
the family of national civil rights icon
Reverend Jesse Jackson.
WHEREAS, when he declared, "I am Somebody," in a poem he 118
often repeated, he sought to reach people of all colors. "I may 119
be poor, but I am Somebody; I may be young, but I am Somebody; I 120
may be on welfare, but I am Somebody," Jackson intoned; and 121
WHEREAS, Reverend Jackson made numerous appearances in 122
Mississippi and at the State Capitol. From his transformative 123
organizing and tireless advocacy to his leadership on the national 124
stage, his courage and conviction inspired millions and 125
strengthened the Civil Rights Movement across this nation; he will 126
be missed: 127
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 128
MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That 129
we do hereby extend the sympathy of the Legislature to the family 130
of national civil rights icon Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., on 131
his passing. 132
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 133
the surviving family of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, forwarded to 134
the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and made available to the 135
Capitol Press Corps. 136