Statement from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism on the Passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson

February 17, 2026 - We join with others across the country in mourning the loss of Reverend Jesse Jackson. Over a lifetime of civil rights leadership and civic activism, he helped transform public life, including through his historic campaigns for the presidency.

As a protégé of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., Reverend Jackson was still in his twenties when he was present at Dr. King’s assassination, one of the most horrific moments in American history. Throughout his life, he carried on Dr. King’s work fighting against racial discrimination and economic injustice. Rev. Jackson also inspired African Americans, and countless others, to engage in elections despite generations of systemic disenfranchisement. 

Though we did not agree on every issue, Reverend Jackson was always eager to hear views different than his own. He caused tremendous pain in the Jewish community and beyond through his ties to Yasser Arafat, Louis Farrakhan, and by his own use of antisemitic slurs. Through engagement, he acknowledged and apologized for those remarks and condemned terrorism, becoming an ally in the fight against antisemitism. He spoke strongly about the need for Israel to have secure borders, vocally embraced the Camp David accords and, in front of international media, raised the issue of Soviet Jewry directly with Mikhail Gorbachev. He built strong ties with Reform rabbis in his hometown of Chicago who shared a similar commitment to justice. Reflecting that relationship, then-UAHC President Alex Schindler invited Rev. Jackson to address the board of the UAHC (now the URJ). He also joined our Religious Action Center at an event marking the anniversary of Kristallnacht and, over many years, leaders of our movement joined Rev. Jackson at rallies and events lifting up social causes that were near to all our hearts.

We send our deepest condolences to Rev. Jackson’s family and to all who loved and admired him.