The Rev. Jesse Jackson announced Saturday that he will step down as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based civil rights group he founded more than 50 years ago.Jackson, 81, announced his resignation during a quiet farewell speech at the organization's annual convention, where the group paid tribute to him with songs, kind words from other Black activists and politicians, and a video montage of Jackson's 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns.In the video player above: See an interview with The Rev. Jesse Jackson from last yearJackson, who has dealt with several health problems in recent years and uses a wheelchair, capped the proceedings with muted remarks. Flanked by his daughter, Santita Jackson, and his son, U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, the once-fiery orator spoke so softly it was difficult to hear him."I am somebody," he said. "Green or yellow, brown, Black or white, we're all perfect in God's eyes. Everybody is somebody. Stop the violence. Save the children. Keep hope alive."The Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes, "a long-time student of Rev. Jackson and supporter" of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, will take over as the group's leader, the coalition said in a statement. Haynes is the pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, according to the church's website.Jesse Jackson has been battling Parkinson's disease for the last eight years. He suffered a host of health setbacks in 2021, beginning with gallbladder surgery, a COVID-19 infection that landed him in a physical therapy-focused facility and a fall at Howard University that caused a head injury.Jackson has been a powerful advocate for civil rights and a strong voice in American politics for decades.A protégé of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., he broke with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1971 to form Operation PUSH, initially named People United to Save Humanity, on Chicago's South Side. The organization was later renamed the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The group's mission ranges from promoting minority hiring in the corporate world to voter registration drives in communities of color. Jackson has been a driving force in the modern civil rights movement, pushing for voting rights and education. Among other things, he joined George Floyd's family at a memorial for the slain Black man and has participated in COVID-19 vaccination drives to counter Black hesitancy about the drugs.Before Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, Jackson had been the most successful Black presidential candidate. He won 13 primaries and caucuses in his push for the 1988 Democratic nomination, which went to Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.Jackson said in his remarks that he plans to continue working on social justice issues, including advocating for three survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre who this week saw a judge dismiss their lawsuit seeking reparations."We're resigning, we're not retiring," Jackson said.Ron Daniels, who works with the National African-American Reparations Commission, a panel working for financial payments to Black people as compensation for slavery, told convention-goers that Jackson is a "synthesis" of King and another 1960s civil rights leader, Malcolm X."He is an authentic genius," Daniel said. "(Jackson) had the unparalleled capacity to frame and articulate ... political strategy in a way common, ordinary people could understand it."Marcia Fudge, secretary of the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development, thanked Jackson for paving the way for Black politicians like herself."Most people talk a good game but they have no courage," she said. "But you never left us, no matter how hard (things became)."Santita Jackson implored convention-goers to follow her father's lead and continue to fight for equality."Rev. Jackson has run his leg," she said. "What are you going to do?"___Richmond reported from Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press reporter Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.

CHICAGO —

The Rev. Jesse Jackson announced Saturday that he will step down as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based civil rights group he founded more than 50 years ago.

Jackson, 81, announced his resignation during a quiet farewell speech at the organization's annual convention, where the group paid tribute to him with songs, kind words from other Black activists and politicians, and a video montage of Jackson's 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns.

In the video player above: See an interview with The Rev. Jesse Jackson from last year

Jackson, who has dealt with several health problems in recent years and uses a wheelchair, capped the proceedings with muted remarks. Flanked by his daughter, Santita Jackson, and his son, U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, the once-fiery orator spoke so softly it was difficult to hear him.

"I am somebody," he said. "Green or yellow, brown, Black or white, we're all perfect in God's eyes. Everybody is somebody. Stop the violence. Save the children. Keep hope alive."

The Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes, "a long-time student of Rev. Jackson and supporter" of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, will take over as the group's leader, the coalition said in a statement. Haynes is the pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, according to the church's website.

Jesse Jackson has been battling Parkinson's disease for the last eight years. He suffered a host of health setbacks in 2021, beginning with gallbladder surgery, a COVID-19 infection that landed him in a physical therapy-focused facility and a fall at Howard University that caused a head injury.

Jackson has been a powerful advocate for civil rights and a strong voice in American politics for decades.

A protégé of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., he broke with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1971 to form Operation PUSH, initially named People United to Save Humanity, on Chicago's South Side. The organization was later renamed the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The group's mission ranges from promoting minority hiring in the corporate world to voter registration drives in communities of color.

Paul Beaty

Jackson has been a driving force in the modern civil rights movement, pushing for voting rights and education. Among other things, he joined George Floyd's family at a memorial for the slain Black man and has participated in COVID-19 vaccination drives to counter Black hesitancy about the drugs.

Before Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, Jackson had been the most successful Black presidential candidate. He won 13 primaries and caucuses in his push for the 1988 Democratic nomination, which went to Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.

Jackson said in his remarks that he plans to continue working on social justice issues, including advocating for three survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre who this week saw a judge dismiss their lawsuit seeking reparations.

"We're resigning, we're not retiring," Jackson said.

Ron Daniels, who works with the National African-American Reparations Commission, a panel working for financial payments to Black people as compensation for slavery, told convention-goers that Jackson is a "synthesis" of King and another 1960s civil rights leader, Malcolm X.

"He is an authentic genius," Daniel said. "(Jackson) had the unparalleled capacity to frame and articulate ... political strategy in a way common, ordinary people could understand it."

Marcia Fudge, secretary of the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development, thanked Jackson for paving the way for Black politicians like herself.

"Most people talk a good game but they have no courage," she said. "But you never left us, no matter how hard (things became)."

Santita Jackson implored convention-goers to follow her father's lead and continue to fight for equality.

"Rev. Jackson has run his leg," she said. "What are you going to do?"

___

Richmond reported from Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press reporter Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.

JUSTICE FOR AHMAUD... NATIONAL CIVIL RIGS HT LEADERS IN BRUNSWICK F OR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW IN THE MURDER TRIALF OAHMAUD ARBE. RY THEIR PRESENCE - OMPRPTED BECAUSE OF A DEFENSE ATTORNEY'S OPPOSITION TO BLK AC PASTORS IN THE COURTROOM. WJCL'S DANAE BUCCI IS LIVE AT THE GLYNN COUNTY COURTHOUSE. DANA E, THESE TENSE DISCUSSIONS CONTINUING TODAY. YEAH, IN FACT IT SPARKED A MOTION FOR MISTRIAL FROM ALL THREE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS. IT STARTED WITH REVEREND JESSE JACKSON'S APPEARANCE HERE IN BRUNSWICK. VIDEO FROM INSIDE THE COURTROOM THIS MORNGNI... YOU CAN SEE HIM SITTING NEXT TO ARBERY'S MOTHER, WANDA COOPER JONES. AGAIN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR WILLIAM 'RODDIE' BRYAN... KEVIN GOUGH... RENEWED HIS COMPLATSIN OF NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS SITTING WITH THE ARBERY FAMILY... LIKENING THE COURTROOMO T COURTSIDE SEATS AT A LAKER'S GAME. <> KEVIN GOUGH // DEFENSE ATTORN EY THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE PROMINENT ICONS IN T HE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT TO BE HE. RE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER IT'S CONSCIOUS OR UNCONSCIOUS, THE IMPACT OF THEIR PRESENCE WITH THE JURY AND RESPECT TO THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CASE. AND I GUESS THE NE XT QUESTION IS WHICH PASTOR IS NE? XT JUDGE TIMOTHY WALMSLEY // PRESIDING JUDGE MR. GOUGH, AT THIS POINT I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I HAVE ALREADY RULED ON THIS COURTS POSITION IN REGARDS TO THE GALLE RY I WILL SAY THAT IS DIRECTLY IN RESPONSE MR. GOUGH TO STATEMENT THAT YOU HAVE MADE WHICH I FIND REPREHENSIBLE. THE CORONEL SANDER'S STATEMENT YOU MADE LAST WEEK I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE SOMETHING THAT HAS INFLUENCED WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. THE JUDGE DENIED THE MOTION FOR MISTRIAL. AND DURING LUNCH BREAK, REVEREND JACKSON SAYS HIS PRESENCE IS JUST THE BEGINNING. <> REV. JESSE JACKSON // CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER THREE MEN KILLED AN INNOCENT, UNARMED BOY. AND THEN WITNESSES SAW IT. THEY HAVE A WEAK CASE. THEY WANT A MISTRIAL THE JUDGE SAID YOU'RE GRANTED A MISTRIA L. LOOK AT THE DIVERSION. TO ME IT'S NOTNL OY A DIVERSION BUT ALSO UNETHICAL. NOT JUST BLACK AND WHITE BUT WRONG AND RIGHT. DANAE... AS FAR AS WHAS T' HAPPENING IN COURT. .. WE'RE HEARING A LOT FROM BRYAN'S ATTORNEY. .. HAVE THE OTHER DEFENSE LAWYERS SPOKEN OUT ABOUT TH? IS WELL I SPOKE TO TRAVIS MCMICHAEL'S ATTORNEY. .. JASON SHEFFIELD ABOUT THAT EARLIER TODAY. HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY: <> REPORTER QUESTION: DO YOU REALLY THINKHA TT THE MERE PRESENCE OF THESE PASTORS COULD EJECT ATTH EMOTION INTO JURORS THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. SHEFFIELD: NO I DON'T THK IN THAT THE PRESENCE IN OF IT 'S SELF OF REVEREND JACKSONR O THE PRESENCE IN OF IT'S SELF OF REREVEND SHARPTON IS SOMEHOW GOING TO CSEAU THIS JURY TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE DEFENDANTS. ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT WHAT CAN HAPPEN AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT JURIS PRUDENCE IN THE STATE IS THAT THERE ARE MOMES NT THAT CAN IMPACT JURORS AND YOU KNOW WHEN YOU SEE IT ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE SEEN IT YET ALTHOUGH WE'VE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS. NOW ORGANIZERS HERE ON THE GRNDOU PLAN TO BRING MORE REVEREND'S THIS WEEK... SOMETHING LIKE 100 OR SO... INCLUDING REVEREND AL SHARPTON... WHO WILL BE HERE THURSDAY. THANK YOU DANAE. DON'T FORGET -- YOU N CA WATCH IT LIVE ON OUR WEB

Jesse Jackson's son seeks to fill Chicago-area US House seat

Updated: 10:23 PM EST Jan 29, 2022

A son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson is seeking the Democratic nomination for the Chicago-area congressional seat held by Bobby Rush, who is retiring.Jonathan Jackson on Friday announced his intentions to replace Rush in Illinois' 1st District, the Chicago Tribune reported.Jackson, 56, owns a construction business and is a leader in his father's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. He said in a statement that he would focus on job creation and expanding access to health care and day care.About a dozen people have filed as candidates for the redrawn congressional district which stretches from Chicago's South Side and southwest suburbs toward Kankakee. They include Chicago Alderman Pat Dowell, state Sen. Jacqueline Collins and Chicago and Cook County workforce development chief Karin Norington-Reaves, according to the newspaper.Rush announced earlier this month that he would not seek a 16th term in the U.S. House. The former Black Panther first won election in 1992.

CHICAGO —

A son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson is seeking the Democratic nomination for the Chicago-area congressional seat held by Bobby Rush, who is retiring.

Jonathan Jackson on Friday announced his intentions to replace Rush in Illinois' 1st District, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Jackson, 56, owns a construction business and is a leader in his father's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. He said in a statement that he would focus on job creation and expanding access to health care and day care.

About a dozen people have filed as candidates for the redrawn congressional district which stretches from Chicago's South Side and southwest suburbs toward Kankakee. They include Chicago Alderman Pat Dowell, state Sen. Jacqueline Collins and Chicago and Cook County workforce development chief Karin Norington-Reaves, according to the newspaper.

Rush announced earlier this month that he would not seek a 16th term in the U.S. House. The former Black Panther first won election in 1992.

Video above: Do breakthrough cases of COVID-19 mean vaccines don't work?Jacqueline Jackson, the wife of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, was released from a Chicago hospital Friday as she recovers from COVID-19.Her husband remains hospitalized at a rehab facility, the family said in a statement."Our mother is leaving the Northwestern Memorial Hospital and coming home," Jackson's son Jonathan said in a written statement. "Our family is grateful to God and the medical team that treated her and that is allowing her body to continue to heal from the Covid-19 virus."A family spokesperson confirmed to CNN on Friday night that Jacqueline Jackson, 77, had arrived at home."Our father remains at The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab where he is continuing to receive intensive occupational and physical therapy," Jonathan Jackson said. "We urge all who have not yet been vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus to do so immediately."The couple was hospitalized last month at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago. The reverend, 79, was subsequently transferred to a rehab hospital to focus on treatment for his Parkinson's disease.Jackson received his first COVID-19 vaccine dose in January at an event to promote African American confidence in vaccinations, according to a statement at the time from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.Due to the more dangerous nature of the delta variant, breakthrough infections for those who are vaccinated have been reported, largely among those who are older or immunocompromised.Although Jackson was vaccinated against the virus, he previously told The Associated Press that his wife had not been vaccinated because she has a "preexisting condition" that worried them. In February, the civil rights leader underwent successful surgery after being hospitalized for abdominal discomfort. In 2017, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder with no cure.

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