As Chicago prepares to honor civil rights leader Jesse Jackson with a series of public memorial services, communities across the country — including Norfolk, Virginia — are reflecting on his decades of leadership, activism, and advocacy.
While the official services will be held in Chicago, Jackson’s impact reached far beyond one city. His message of economic empowerment, voting rights, and social justice resonated strongly in Hampton Roads and throughout Virginia.
Chicago Memorial Schedule
The scheduled services include:
- February 26–27: Lying in State beginning at 10 a.m. at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition (930 E. 50th St., Chicago).
- February 27: Celebration of Life from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at House of Hope (752 E. 114th St., Chicago).
Additional services will be held in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., before a private homegoing service on March 7.
Norfolk’s Connection to the Civil Rights Movement
Norfolk, home to a rich African American history and a legacy of civil rights milestones — including school desegregation battles and strong faith-based leadership — shares a deep connection to the broader movement Jackson helped shape.
Local pastors, civic leaders, and community advocates in the 757 are expected to recognize his contributions through church tributes, community discussions, and public acknowledgments of his role in advancing political participation and economic opportunity nationwide.
Jackson’s work through Operation PUSH and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition inspired generations to organize, vote, and demand corporate and governmental accountability — values that continue to resonate within Norfolk’s community leadership.
A National Voice Remembered Locally
From marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to running historic presidential campaigns in the 1980s, Jackson became one of the most influential figures in modern civil rights history. His advocacy helped expand representation and opportunity for countless Americans.
As Chicago prepares to host memorial services, Norfolk joins cities across the country in honoring a man whose life’s work left a lasting imprint on the struggle for justice and equality.
For many in Hampton Roads, Rev. Jesse Jackson’s legacy serves as both a reminder of how far the nation has come — and how much work remains.
(Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
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