The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., civil rights leader, two-time presidential candidate, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, died on February 17, 2026. He was 84. Rev. Jackson was a longtime ally of UCC Media Justice and delivered the 30th Annual Everett C. Parker Ethics in Telecommunications Lecture in September 2012.
Upon learning that the Rev. Jesse Jackson has died, Cheryl A. Leanza of the UCC Media Justice ministry said, “Jesse Jackson was a singular voice in American history and American politics. His work will live long beyond his lifetime.” At the Parker Lecture, Rev. Jackson paid tribute to Everett Parker and lifted up the fight for affordable communication for incarcerated people. Rev. Jackson will be long remembered for his powerful use of the media to achieve social justice goals. Leanza remembered, “Rev. Jackson would often say in his characteristic call and response oration that he would rather have 10 people protesting at the FCC than 100 people protesting somewhere else because of the powerful impact of communications on our society.”
The United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry sends our condolences to Rev. Jackson’s family and the entire Rainbow PUSH organization.