As Rev. Jesse Jackson Steps Down, Vice President Kamala Harris ...

WOODLAWN — After more than 50 years at the helm of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Rev. Jesse Jackson is stepping down — but it’s not the end of his activism career, the civil rights leader said Sunday.

“I’m not retiring, I’m pivoting to another platform,” Jackson said to resounding applause at the Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester Ave. “I want to teach university, teach young seminaries and preachers how to fight for social justice.”

Jackson spoke Sunday at Rainbow/PUSH Coalition’s annual conference, which was headlined by Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Today we celebrate one of America’s greatest patriots, someone who deeply believes in the promise of our country,” Harris said. “A fight for freedom and human rights for all people.

“He has built coalitions that have expanded, who has a voice and who has a seat at the table. A coalition to push the values of democracy and liberty and equality and justice.”

Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoVice President Kamala Harris embraces Congressman Jonathan Jackson as Rev. Jesse Jackson was recognized during the 57th Annual Rainbow/PUSH Convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn on July 16, 2023.

Harris said she was inspired from a young age by Jackson, and she touted their work together from pushing for the right to vote to advocating for public safety and consumer protection in California.

Harris also noted she attended college with his daughter Santita Jackson, who sang “Wind Beneath My Wings” at Sunday’s tribute to her father.

Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoSupporters listen as Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks during the 57th Annual Rainbow/PUSH Convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn on July 16, 2023.

“And as President Biden said today, Rev, you are a man of God and you are a man of the people,” the vice president said.

Over the course of his career in social justice and politics, Jackson ran for president in 1984 and 1988. He was the most successful Black politician to campaign for the presidency until Barack Obama, according to The Hill.

His son, U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, spoke about his father’s impact on the nation’s current political atmosphere.

“I do fundamentally believe, Dad, that the nation owes you a debt of gratitude for how you’ve continued to do the work of your mentor, the Rev. Martin Luther King, and almost single-handedly changed the content, the tone and the direction of the Democratic Party,” the congressman said.

“President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris and almost every other Black elected official — most of all, me — would not be here without you for what you did in 1984 and 1988.”

Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoCongressman Jonathan Jackson speaks at Sunday’s convention.

Rev. Jackson, who announced in 2017 that he had Parkinson’s disease, has named the Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes III of Dallas as his successor at Rainbow/PUSH.

“Thank you Rev. Jackson because you have brilliantly continued the prophetic tradition of reuniting in holy wedlock Jesus and justice,” Haynes said.

See photos from Sunday’s convention:

Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoVice President Kamala Harris holds hands with Rev. Jesse Jackson as he was recognized during the 57th Annual Rainbow/PUSH Convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn on July 16, 2023.Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoRev. Jesse Jackson speaks during the 57th Annual Rainbow/PUSH Convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn on July 16, 2023.Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoA faithful waves an American flag as Rev. Jesse Jackson was recognized during the 57th Annual Rainbow/PUSH Convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn on July 16, 2023.Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoRev. Jesse Jackson was recognized during the 57th Annual Rainbow/PUSH Convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn on July 16, 2023.Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoA faithful holds an American flag as Rev. Jesse Jackson was recognized during the 57th Annual Rainbow/PUSH Convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn on July 16, 2023.Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoRev. Dr. Frederick Haynes III of Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, was named the new president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoFaithfuls listen while Vice President Kamala Harris speaks as Rev. Jesse Jackson was recognized during the 57th Annual Rainbow/PUSH Convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn on July 16, 2023.Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club ChicagoCongressman Jonathan Jackson reads before Rev. Jesse Jackson was recognized during the 57th Annual Rainbow/PUSH Convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn on July 16, 2023.

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