Today, Sacramento Poor People’s Campaign (Sac PPC) mourns the passing of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., who joined the ancestors and was a transformative leader whose life’s work is deeply woven into the nation’s history, mission, and enduring impact.
Rev. Jackson was like family to the activists. From his early days as a young organizer in the 1960s to his historic presidential run in the 1980s, he collaborated with NAACP, CORE, SNCC , and SLC leaders, participated in marches with numerous national figures, and worked with local groups in Sacramento. He played a key role in turning the national movement for racial equality into a widespread, people-led coalition calling for systemic change.
Rev Jackson was closely connected to the National Poor People’s Campaign, which Bishop William Barber II co-chairs and where he served as Jackson’s friend and mentee.
Fifty years later, a new movement, the National Poor People’ Campaign of the locked out is rising. It is right on time. Everything we worked for – and too many of us died for – during the civil rights movement is under attack. Voting rights, women’s rights, workers’ rights, access to affordable health care, housing, education, the air we breathe and the water we drink are in peril. Jackson stated, “When the new Poor People’s Campaign hits the streets, I will proudly join them.”
Rev Jackson had strong ties to Sacramento, organizing marches across California and speaking at college campuses and historic Black churches like Shiloh Baptist Church in Oak Park—the second oldest Black church and Dr. Cornel West’s home church. He denounced Prop 209 in cities including Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, Davis, and Sacramento. In 1997, some current members and supporters of the Sacramento Poor People’s Campaign organized and documented Rev Jackson’s march from Davis to Sacramento.
Like his mentor, MLK served as a leader in the pursuit of justice. He urged the nation to embody its highest ideals and motivated millions to advocate for social justice. Rev. Jesse Jackson, thank you for your dedication to social justice and Rest In Power!
Faye Wilson Kennedy is a founding member of various social justice organizations, an organizer with the Sacramento Poor People’s Campaign, and serves as the Chair of the Sacramento Black Caucus.
