Former President Barack Obama speaks during final public tribute to the late Rev. Jesse Jackson

Chicago, ladies and gentlemen, President Barack Obama. It’s good to be home. I love you back. The book The book of Isaiah. Where are you? Now see, I believe in the Constitution. The book of Isaiah. God is looking for *** messenger. To guide *** hardened and resistant people. And the Lord asks, Whom shall I send? And who will go with us? To which Isaiah replies, Here I am, Lord. Send me To Mother Jackson and the Jackson family. To President and Mrs. Biden, President and Secretary Clinton. Vice President Harris. Pastor Bates. My old friend. Though he’s looking good, Reverend Meeks. Reverend Jenkins. It is an honor to join you today to celebrate. The Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson. *** man who, when the poor. And the dispossessed needed *** champion. And the country needed healing. Step forward again. And again, And again, And said, Send me Reverend Jackson’s immense gifts were apparent at an early age. Even if his circumstances conspired to try to hold him back. Born out of wedlock to *** teenage mom. Growing up Under the oppressive cloud of segregation confined. To schools. Sports facilities, movie theaters that were separate. and unequal. It was *** world where on Thanksgiving he’d have to wait for his mother to come home on the bus carrying leftovers from the dinner she had to cook. For somebody else *** world designed to tell *** child. that he or she could only go so far. That to think otherwise would be foolish or dangerous. And that wisdom Required you to accept your lot in life. And young Jesse, refused to accept that verdict. He was *** born leader. An athlete *** talker knew how to talk Star quarterback. Student body president. He could have succeeded within the confines that were determined for him and had *** successful life. But like so many. of his generation, so many extraordinary civil rights leaders in the late 50s and 60s that Joshua generation, he instinctively understood that Individual success. meant nothing unless everybody was free. So he became inspired. By the bus boycotts in Montgomery. led 7 black students into the whites-only library. Sitting down and getting arrested for reading. Think about that. The library closed. But Then *** reopening. And when it did, it was open to everyone. Send me Jesse said. Even as *** young man, and the world got *** little bit better. By the time Reverend Jackson graduated from college, he had attended Chicago Theological Seminary. He knew the nature of his calling and he became, as everybody knows, the youngest member. Of SCLC. Assigned to lead Operation Breadbasket here in Chicago, right around the time that Isaiah Thomas is talking about. And it was during this period and especially after Dr. King’s death. When, when the optimism of the early movement had begun to fade. And leadership had begun to fracture. And when the country seemed to have Grown bored, gotten weary. Of the idea of justice and equality and moved on to to other concerns. That Reverend Jackson rose above despair. and kept that righteous flame alive. Through Operation Push, he, he led boycotts and challenged corporate policies around hiring and contracting, recognizing that civil rights without economic justice. was an empty promise. He backed unions in their organizing efforts and activists and fair wage campaigns, understanding that If the have-nots and the have-lit bits. Ever learned to make common cause across racial lines instead of fighting each other over breadcrumbs. Everybody would benefit. He helped register millions of voters. He fought against biases in the criminal justice system. He drew attention. To local abuses of power and called folks at the national level to account. And by the early 80s, he was delivering that message of change and hope. Across the globe freeing hostages from captivity. Fighting to end. Apartheid in South Africa. And then In 1984, As the powers that be in Washington were rolling back hard-won progress. Slashing the social safety net when more and more folks were getting left behind and greed was being trumpeted as *** virtue. See, we’ve been there before. He stepped forward Once again, And said, send me. He ran For the presidency of the United States of America. I had just graduated from college during that first campaign. And I, I was living in New York at the time. I was working to pay off my student loans, eating *** lot of tuna fish and camel soup. And, uh, if I went to *** diner, you know, I’d, I’d grab some extra crackers. Put it in my pocket. And I was inspired by the civil rights movement. And I had in my mind to work for social justice, but, but even though I was full of good intentions. I was, I was uncertain. of how to serve and, and, and fighting off self-doubt. And I remember how at the time, plenty of people, including, I’m sorry, plenty of black folks, were dismissing. Jesse’s chances Suggesting he just wants attention. He can only get black votes. But then I remember one night sitting in my janky apartment. And I got no black white TV with with the rabbit ears, and I’m kind of jiggering around and it’s about this big. I know young people can’t imagine, but the TV was about this big. And I’m watching the Democratic primary debate between him. And Walter Mondale and Gary Hart. And I remember how When that debate was over. I turned off that TV and, and I thought the same thing that I know *** lot of people thought that night even if they didn’t want to admit it. That In his ideas, in his platform, in his analysis, in his intelligence, in his insight. Jesse hadn’t just held his own. He had owned that stage. He wasn’t an intruder. He wasn’t *** pretender. He belonged on that stage. And the message he sent To *** 22 year old. Child of *** single mother. With *** funny name An outsider Was that maybe there wasn’t any place. Any room Where we didn’t belong. And that message of fairness. And dignity Of justice and hope No, that’s what the rainbow coalition was all about. In 1984 and then again in 1988. Jesse didn’t just speak to black folks, he spoke to white folks and Latinos and Asian Americans and the first Americans. He spoke to family farmers and environmentalists. He spoke to gay rights activists when nobody was talking to gay rights activists. And blue collar workers and he. Gave them the same message that they mattered. That their voices and their votes counted. He invited them to believe, he invited us to believe. In our own power. To change America for the better. Um. By the delegate count, just these two candidacies ultimately came up short. But he paved the road. For so many others to follow. Doug Wilder became the first elected black governor. Carol Moseley Braun went to the US Senate. Because of Jesse, the Democratic Party changed its rules, ending the winner take all distribution of delegates during presidential primaries, which meant underdogs and outsiders like Bill Clinton or Bernie Sanders could stay competitive and build momentum instead of getting knocked out early. And it was because of that path. That he had laid Because of his courage. His audacity. That 2 decades later, *** young black senator from Chicago’s South Side would even be taken seriously as *** candidate for the presidential nomination. I I still credit That first run of justice. And, and, and, and And Harold Washington’s campaign. for drawing me to Chicago. And And I didn’t know anybody when I first arrived. And I was working as *** community organizer, as it so happens in neighborhoods right around here. Roseland, Woodlawn, Odale, West Pullman. And I, and I mean these, these, these young preachers, like, like Meeks. And and and and some crazy priest named Flager. And, and. And, and I guess Jenkins was running around, but, but he’s kind of young. He came *** little bit later, but, but, but, but I, so I’m, I’m going to churches and I’m listening to all these amazing preachers and And it was hard work, and half the time I didn’t know what I was doing. And progress was slow. And I definitely didn’t know how I was going to survive the Chicago winters. Because I grew up in Hawaii. But I do remember heading. To the Bush headquarters. Some Saturday mornings to listen and learn. From Reverend Jackson. And y’all remember how on some mornings that there was *** major issue going on. The room would be packed to the rafters. And sometimes some celebrity just wanders in. And then some mornings it was kind of low key. Either way though, that the announcements would be made and Barrow, say *** prayer and And just sit there and then finally he gathered himself up and stand and he’d start kind of slow. You know, and, and, and sometimes he, he, he, he’d talked kind of low, so you couldn’t quite catch what he was saying. So everybody lean in. And over time, It was that, that same. boundless energy that would emerge and that same passion and that same insight, and he’d offer you *** master class in economics. On *** Saturday morning. And he’d give you *** seminar on American history and American politics, and he’d make complicated things plain. And he tells stories that would make you laugh one minute and cry the next. And whether you are *** bus driver, or *** teacher, or *** business leader, Or *** young organizer. You came away from those meetings with *** better understanding of how the world worked, how power worked. And more importantly, he made you believe that if we came together. We could make the world work better. Now We’ve been talking about Jesse, Telling us We are somebody. I am somebody. And he wasn’t just talking to young black boys like Isaiah, though. He loved them fiercely. He wasn’t just talking to young black girls. To help them believe. Though he believed in them. He was talking about everyone who was left out, everyone who was forgotten, everyone who was unseen, everyone who was unheard, and in that sense, he was expressing the very essence of what our democracy should be. The ideals at the very heart of the American experiment. The belief that regardless of what we look like or how we worship, regardless of where our ancestors come from, or how much money we got. We’re all part of the American family. We’re all endowed with the same inalienable rights to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We’re all obligated to answer the call and step forward and take responsibility for making wrongs right. And for caring for our neighbors. And bringing the reality of America *** step closer to its glorious ideals. And answering that call isn’t always easy. And Reverend Jackson. And his family knew that better than most. To do what he did. He would endure all kinds of hatred and setbacks and betrayals and doubters and death threats. He would sacrifice, as Jim Reynolds pointed out, The leisure and comfort of what was available to him as *** far more financially secure life. And those sacrifices were not his alone. They were shared by His wife. And his children. And they bore that burden with grace. and strength I got to know the Reverend and his family over the years, and as I watched his children follow his example of service. I came to appreciate the conviction that drove him that he had passed on, the faith that guided him and that he had passed on. And it was *** faith that didn’t waver. The flame that burned bright, even as his body began to fail. The last time he and I had *** chance to visit in person, he was already ailing. It was getting difficult for him to stand, difficult for him to speak. We’re in Hyde Park In *** hotel room. I embraced him and Figured we’d just have *** low-key visit. Maybe he’d need some rest. And he starts coming up with this project and this initiative. And issues I needed to look into. And here’s some, here’s some commentary that he would suggested some phrasing that he thought might work and, and maybe we might co-write an article and And listening to him, I couldn’t help smiling. Because it took me back. And and I started reminiscing with him about those Saturday mornings that push and the breakfast that he’d host, you know, away from the full meeting. And I didn’t get *** chance to go to that until I was *** state senator and probably Meeks invited me. So I so I was like, you know. I, I was tagging along with, with Meeks and, uh, And he’d pull out *** piece of paper, you know, he’d scribbled some stuff and He started passing out assignments and pulling together working groups and asking for updates on the latest campaign. And, and I’ll admit, let’s face it, those sessions could run *** little long. And did not always follow Robert’s rules of order. But when Jesse called your name, and acknowledged. You in that room Especially if you were young. Especially if you were just coming up, especially if you weren’t sure you could pull off what you, you thought you might be able to do, especially When you needed help. When he did that, you stood up *** little straighter. You knew you’d been seen. By this giant He’d laid hands on you. And let you know You had *** contribution to make. And so that day I told him how much that meant to me. And how much it meant to so many lives that he impacted. And I told him thank you. Because I’d always be grateful for that legacy of hope. I know I’ve gone along. I was, it was going to be much shorter until Isaiah spoke. I figure if *** Detroit Pistons can take up this much time. It was beautiful, and I mean that. Love me, Sama. We are living In *** time when it can be hard to hope. Each day we wake up to some new assault. On our democratic institutions. Another Setback to the idea of the rule of law. An offense to common decency every day you wake up to. to things you just didn’t think. Where possible, Each day we’re told by those in high office to fear each other and to turn on each other and that some Americans count more than others. And that some don’t even count at all. Everywhere we see greed and bigotry being celebrated and bullying. And mockery masquerading as strength. We see science and expertise denigrated while ignorance and dishonesty and cruelty and corruption are reaping untold rewards every single day. We see that. And it’s hard to hope. In those moments. So it may be tempting to get discouraged. To give in to cynicism. It may be tempting. For some to compromise with power. and grab what you can. Or even for good people, maybe just put your head down and wait for the storm to pass. But this man. Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson. inspires us to take *** harder path. His voice calls on each of us to be heralds of change, to be messengers of hope, to step forward and say, send me Wherever we have *** chance to make an impact, whether it’s in our school, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our cities, not for fame, not for glory, or because success is guaranteed, but because it gives our life purpose. Because it aligns with what our faith tells us God demands. And because if we don’t step up, No one else will How fortunate we were. That Jesse Jackson answered that call. What *** great debt we owe to him. May God bless Reverend Jackson. May he rest in eternal peace. God bless you. President Barack Obama. Well