Caribbean-American Congresswoman Yvette Clarke expressed heartbreak Tuesday at the death of United States Civil Rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson.
Jackson, an ally of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and two-time Democratic presidential candidate, “died peacefully” on Tuesday, his family confirmed. He was 84.
“Our father was a servant leader – not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the family said in a statement. Jackson had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017 and had battled health issues in recent months.
Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants who represents Brooklyn’s 9th Congressional District, said Jackson served the United States and his community “proudly as an advocate and change agent for civil rights, justice, and human dignity.”
“Reverend Jackson dedicated his life to building a more just and equitable America,” Clarke said, noting his early work alongside Dr. King and other civil rights leaders and his founding of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. She described Jackson as “monumental in pushing for equality and rights for the Black community.”
“He ran historic presidential campaigns that expanded political participation for Black Americans and marginalized communities, under the belief that our nation could and should do better,” Clarke added. “As a daughter of Caribbean immigrants and a public servant representing the vibrant, diverse communities of Brooklyn, I have long stood on the shoulders of Reverend Jackson’s courage and conviction. He showed us what fearless advocacy looks like, and the sacrifice it entails. He taught us that justice requires persistence, faith, and an unshakable belief in the power of the people.”
Clarke said Jackson “understood that civil rights are human rights, and that economic justice, voting rights, labor rights, and access to opportunity are all intertwined. He used his voice to speak truth to power, to demand accountability, and to empower those too often pushed aside due to race and socioeconomic status. Not only did he use his voice, but he led with action and conviction. His life was a testament to faith in action. His legacy lives on in every ballot we cast, every barrier we break, and in every young person who dares to believe that their voice matters.”
She extended her prayers to Jackson’s family, including her “dear friend and devoted colleague, Congressman Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, as well as his many loved ones and the countless other lives he touched across this nation and around the world.”
“May we honour him not only in words, but in continued progress toward the justice he so relentlessly pursued. Well done, thy good and faithful servant. May he rest in eternal power,” Clarke said.
Civil Rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton, who described Jackson as his mentor, also paid tribute.
“I just prayed with his family by phone. He was a consequential and transformative leader who changed this nation and the world. He shaped public policy and changed laws. He kept the dream alive and taught young children from broken homes, like me, that we don’t have broken spirits. He told us we were somebody and made us believe. I will always cherish him taking me under his wing, and I will forever try to do my part to keep hope alive. A giant has gone home. Sending prayers, so many prayers, love, and heartfelt condolences to the Jackson family and to every person around the world whose life he touched and who loved him,” Sharpton said.
