The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson has passed away at 84 years old.
Jackson, who was the protégé of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., passed away surrounded by his family. On Nov.12, Rev. Jackson was hospitalized due to his lengthy battle with progressive neuromuscular disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, a condition that’s similar to Parkinson’s disease.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Civil Rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.,” said a statement from the organization on Instagram. “He died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family.”
After Dr. King was killed in Memphis, Tennessee, Jackson positioned himself to become the new leader of the Civil Rights movement.
Throughout his career, he has led multiple crusades in the United States as well as abroad. He’s been an advocate for the poor and spoke on issues such as voting rights, education, health care, and more.
He was a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and a two-time Democratic presidential candidate.
Jackson would also be the founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, an international and civil rights organization.
In 2017, while speaking about the current injustices and struggles for human rights, he also revealed that he was ill. “As we continue in the struggle for human rights, remember that God will see us through, even in our midnight moments.”
Although he was ill, the Rev. Jesse Jackson kept fighting for the rights of others. In 2021, he showed up to support protesters awaiting the trial verdict of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who was convicted of killing George Floyd. He also attended the funeral service of Daunte Wright, a Black man who was shot and killed by a police officer while at a protest against police violence.
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson will always be remembered for his leadership, activism, and dedication to helping others. We will keep his family and loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.
Okoumou had a three hour stand off with the police before she was finally taken into custody Wednesday night. She was held in a federal detention center and her case is currently being handled by Southern District of New York Prosecutors.
After her release,Okoumou spoke out the courthouse, wearing a black shirt with white letters saying “White Supremacy is Terrorism”, and citing a quote that inspired her to climb the Statue of Liberty, by Michelle Obama. “Michelle Obama, our beloved first lady that I care so much about said,’When they go low, we go high.’ I went as high as I could.”
Okoumou was charged with trespassing as well as two other misdemeanors. While in court, she pleaded not guilty during her short hearing in a Staten Island court room before being released by the magistrate judge.Okoumou is being called our modern day SHERO!.