Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson

Rev. Jesse Jackson, the prominent civil rights leader who marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, has died at age 84 according to his family announcement, marking the end of an era in American civil rights activism. The news comes as a significant loss to the nation's social justice landscape, where Jackson had been a towering figure for decades. Jackson's death represents the passing of one of the last direct links to the Civil Rights Movement's leadership, having participated in historic marches including the Selma to Montgomery marches and played a key role in advocating for racial equality and economic justice. Throughout his career, Jackson ran for president twice as a Democratic candidate, becoming the first serious African American contender for the nation's highest office, and was instrumental in freeing American hostages and mediating international conflicts. His Rainbow PUSH Coalition, established in 1971, continued his mission of empowering communities and fighting for social change, maintaining a significant presence in Chicago where he was based. Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, commented on Jackson's legacy, highlighting how his fearless advocacy transformed the landscape of civil rights in America. Meanwhile, CBS News Chicago's Darius Johnson reported from Rainbow PUSH headquarters in Illinois, where tributes began pouring in almost immediately after the announcement.