Press Releases

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Alayah Phipps 

February 18, 2026                                                    202-813-2793 

PRESS RELEASE 

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES ON PASSING OF CIVIL RIGHTS ICON REVEREND JESSE LOUIS JACKSON SR. 

Washington, D.C.— Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement on the passing of Civil Rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.: 

"Today, our nation mourns the loss of a giant. During Black History Month, we honor the life of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., who dedicated his life to the fight for justice, equality, and human dignity. His voice and moral courage shaped the soul of our nation and losing him during Black History Month reminds us that the leaders who made history walked among us, and their work is now ours. 

“Through Operation Breadbasket and later the Rainbow PUSH Coalition—a movement he created that transformed how America approaches civil rights—Reverend Jackson channeled the cry for justice into action. He pressured corporate boardrooms, securing diplomatic victories, and opened doors for generations to come. His historic presidential campaigns as a Democratic candidate in 1984 and 1988 shattered barriers, winning 13 primaries and caucuses and showed America what was possible. He paved the path for the election of President Barack Obama and for so many of us who serve in Congress today. 

“For the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Reverend Jackson was more than a leader—he was a North Star. His mentorship, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to Black political empowerment strengthened our institution and inspired countless members, including many who serve today, to fight for justice with the same moral clarity and courage he embodied. 

“His legacy lives in every voter registration drive, every march for economic justice, and every movement that demanded the voiceless be heard. He mobilized millions, transformed the political landscape, and inspired generations of leaders—including many of us who now serve in Congress—to believe that we too could make a difference. 

“As the representative of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a territory still fighting for full equality and representation, I am deeply grateful for Reverend Jackson's unwavering commitment to ensuring that all Americans—regardless of where they live, what they look like, or how much money they have—are treated with dignity and have access to opportunity. 

“My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, children, grandchildren, and the entire Jackson family, including my colleague Congressman Jonathan Jackson, who carries his father’s legacy forward in Congress. They shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of their extended family. May he rest in peace and power. 

“Reverend Jackson's work is not finished. It falls to all of us to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by—justice, equality, and love. His life reminds us that change is possible when we have the courage to demand it and the determination to see it through. In his most famous words, we will 'Keep Hope Alive!'" 

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