Chicagoans pay respects to Jesse Jackson as cross-country memorial services begin

Mourners lined up Thursday at Rainbow/PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago to pay final respects to the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., as cross-country memorial services began for the civil rights icon who died last week at age 84 after battling a rare neurological disorder. Family members wiped away tears as the casket was brought into the stately brick building, where Jackson's children, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and the Rev. Al Sharpton stood by the open casket to greet visitors. Inside the auditorium, flowers lined the sidewalks while people waiting to enter watched a large screen playing video excerpts of Jackson's notable speeches, with some raising their fists in solidarity. 'The challenge for us is that we've got to make sure that all he lived for was not in vain,' Sharpton told reporters. 'Dr. King's dream and Jesse Jackson's mission now falls on our shoulders. We've got to stand up and keep it going.' The Chicago memorial marks the beginning of a two-week series of events honoring Jackson's extraordinary life and contributions to the civil rights movement, with additional services planned in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina, where he was born and began his activism. Jackson's causes were countless, including advocating for the poor and underrepresented on issues such as voting rights, job opportunities, education, and healthcare. He scored diplomatic victories with world leaders and through his Rainbow PUSH Coalition, channeled cries for Black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms, pressuring executives to make America a more open and equitable society. While Jackson will lie in honor at the South Carolina Statehouse next week, his request to lie in honor at the United States Capitol rotunda was denied by House Speaker Mike Johnson's office. The events will conclude with a large celebration of life gathering at a Chicago megachurch and finally, homegoing services at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters, with family members emphasizing that all services will be open to the public.