Former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden gathered in Chicago to honor the memory of the renowned civil rights activist Jesse Jackson during a public memorial service. Barack Obama, reflecting on Jackson's contributions, drew a parallel between him and the biblical prophet Isaiah, highlighting Jackson's readiness to stand up as a champion for the marginalized: 'Whenever the poor and the dispossessed needed an advocate, and the country needed healing, he stepped forward and said: 'Send me.'

Jesse Jackson emerged as a prominent figure during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, participating in significant events like the Selma to Montgomery march for voting rights in Alabama in 1965, alongside fellow activist Martin Luther King Jr. Notably, Jackson was present at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis when King was assassinated in 1968, marking him as a long-standing leader in the struggle for racial equality in the United States.

Jackson passed away on February 17 at the age of 84. His legacy as a tireless advocate for civil rights, racial equality, and social justice was honored by dignitaries at the memorial, showcasing the enduring impact he had on American society and the ongoing importance of his work in contemporary discourse on civil rights.