WSSNews | Volume 39 No. 48

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Helen Butler, Executive Director of the Georgia Coalition for The People's Agenda Issued the Following Statement on the Passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.

• ADDRESSING CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES
• ACT
• How Long?

Photo by: Clyde @clyde_bradley@r

Rev. Jesse Jackson joins the late Dr. Joseph E. Lowery (seated), founder of the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda, and longtime leader Helen Butler (right), along with other prominent civil rights leaders, at a Coalition event launching voter mobilization efforts in Atlanta.

The Georgia Coalition for the People's Agen- da mourns the loss of one of the most influ- ential civil rights warriors in modern history, Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. From Op- eration Breadbasket to his historic presidential campaigns, to his decades of leadership at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Rev. Jackson dedi- cated his life to service, justice, and economic and political empowerment for Black commu- nities across this nation.

Rev. Jackson began organizing as a student and soon became a trusted lieutenant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He utilized economic boycotts and negotiation to demand jobs, contracts, and opportunity for Black workers and businesses. But he didn't just pro- test, he built political power.

His 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns registered millions of new voters, including more than two million in 1988 alone. He ex- panded the electorate, inspired young people, and helped usher in a generation of Black elect- ed officials at the state and national levels. His work strengthened the enforcement and spirit of the Voting Rights Act and cemented voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts as central pillars of the modern civil rights move- ment. He believed deeply that the ballot was the most powerful nonviolent tool we possess.

As we bid farewell to an American hero who dedicated his life to uplifting the marginal- ized and amplifying voices too often ignored, it feels as though we are closing the chapter on a generation of fearless warriors who con- fronted injustice and greed head-on. The man who inspired a nation to Keep Hope Alive has departed at a time when it feels hope is in short supply. Yet his life teaches us that hope is not passive; it is a call to action, a mandate to organize, and a responsibility to carry the struggle forward.

To continue, visit www.wssnews.com.