Rev. Jesse Jackson: Services to honor civil rights icon expanded to include Chicago, South Carolina
CHICAGO (WLS) — Rev. Jesse Jackson died Tuesday at the age of 84. The civil rights leader had a rare neurodegenerative disease.
His family and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition have released a new schedule of services to remember Jackson that now includes Chicago and South Carolina.
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Jackson’s wife of over 60 years, Jacqueline Jackson, is arranging the services.
“Since announcing the details of Reverend Jackson’s Homegoing service yesterday, we have also heard from leaders in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., two places of profound significance to him,” a family statement Thursday read in part. “They have extended the extraordinary honor of allowing him to be celebrated in formal services in his native state of South Carolina and formal services in the nation’s capital-Washington, D.C. These viewings will be followed by official services in his beloved home, the city of Chicago on March 6 and 7.”
The family later said services in Washington were postponed.
The full schedule of services is as follows:
Thursday, Feb. 26
Lying in State at Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Location: 930 E. 50th St., Chicago, IL 60615
Doors open: 10 a.m.
Friday, Feb. 27
Lying in State at Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Location: 930 E. 50th St., Chicago, IL 60615
Doors open: 10 a.m.
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management announced street closures ahead of Thursday and Friday’s visitation.
Street closures begin at 5:30 a.m. until 11:15 p.m. and affect north and southbound Lanes of South Drexel Boulevard between East Hyde Park Boulevard (51st Street) and East 49th Street.
East 50th Street between South Drexel Avenue and South Ellis Avenue will also be closed
Entry, Lines and Security
Main entry and rideshare drop-off: East 49th Street and South Drexel and East Hyde Park and South Drexel
Accessible drop-off at East 50th Street and South Ellis Avenue
Line forms along South Drexel
Attendees will go through magnetometer screening before entering.
Sunday, March 1 through Thursday, March 5
Travel to and from South Carolina
Monday, March 2
Lying in Repose at South Carolina State Capitol – Rotunda
Location: 1100 Gervais St., Columbia, South Carolina
10 a.m. EST – Public service
The public service will include:
Reflections from local state and federal leaders
Musical selections by Allen University and/or Benedict College Choir
Wreath placement ceremony
4 p.m. EST – Church Service at Brookland Baptist Church
1066 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia, South Carolina
Friday, March 6
The People’s Celebration at House of Hope
Location: 752 E. 114th St., Chicago, IL 60628
Doors open: 9 a.m.
Service: 11 a.m.
Saturday, March 7
Private Homegoing Celebration at Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Location: 930 E. 50th St., Chicago, IL 60615
Doors open: 8 a.m.
Service: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Limited capacity
Since news of his passing, the nation is remembering Jesse Jackson as a history maker whose tireless commitment to justice for all knew no bounds.
The civil rights icon advocated not just for people of color, but all who were marginalized, notably negotiating the release of three U.S. soldiers from Yugoslavia.
Before leading the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he launched Operation Breadbasket in 1966 to address hunger in the basement of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Fuller Park to pressure companies to hire Black people. He took his charge from Dr. Martin Luther King.
Whether he was confronting racism or social injustice in the streets or boardrooms or creating political equity for people of color, Jesse Jackson was a force to reckoned with.
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