“For greater than 60 years, Reverend Jackson helped lead a number of the most vital actions for change in human historical past,” he stated in an official assertion. “From organizing boycotts and sit-ins, to registering hundreds of thousands of voters, to advocating for freedom and democracy all over the world, he was relentless in his perception that we’re all kids of God, deserving of dignity and respect.”
Obama additionally famous that Jackson’s work had a significant impact on each him and his spouse, and famous that Michelle “bought her first glimpse of political organizing on the Jacksons’ kitchen desk when she was a teen.”
He additionally acknowledged that Jackson’s presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 “laid the muse for my very own marketing campaign to the very best workplace of the land.” This, although, was a sore spot for Jackson, who buddies have stated felt Obama didn’t give him sufficient credit score for these efforts.
Within the publish, Obama stated he and Michelle “will all the time be thankful for Jesse’s lifetime of service, and the friendship our households share.”
“We stood on his shoulders. We ship our deepest condolences to the Jackson household and everybody in Chicago and past who knew and beloved him.”