Tribute to the Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson

Monaco, February 27, 2026 - Following the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson on February 17, 2026, the Ordre de l'Étoile du Sud honors the life and enduring legacy of this courageous American civil rights activist.
​Reverend Jackson dedicated his life to the pursuit of peace, justice, equality, and liberation. As a young man, he emerged as a prominent figure in the American Civil Rights Movement, serving as a protégé to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and participating in the historic 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. Throughout his life, he demonstrated an unwavering commitment to political activism and the fight for equality, championing the rights not only of African Americans but of all minority groups.
​He was also a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, famously declaring: "The rainbow includes all members of the LGBTQ+ community. No American citizen should be deprived of equality under the law." In 1987, during his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, he helped organize the Second National March on Washington for LGBTQ+ Rights. In 1993, at the March on Washington for LGBTQ+ Equal Rights and Liberation, he urged the nation: "No more homophobia! Respect people, protect them. Every person counts."
​Reverend Jackson's heritage reflected the complex tapestry of American history, as he was of Cherokee, African, and Irish descent. Throughout his life, he stood in solidarity with Indigenous peoples, becoming a loyal ally to Native American nations. In 2016, he visited the Standing Rock Indian Reservation to support the Sioux-led movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline. In 1997, he supported the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance in their efforts to protect sacred lands from nuclear waste disposal. In 2000, during the final months of the Clinton administration, he advocated for the release of activist Leonard Peltier.
​Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. stated:
"Reverend Jackson was a fervent advocate for racial, social, and economic justice, and a friend to the Cherokee people. Throughout his career, he spoke out on many of the causes and concerns of Indigenous communities, often likening the treatment of Native Americans and the enslavement of Black people to two of America's original sins-injustices that we must all repair and heal from."
​Reverend Jackson sought the Democratic presidential nomination twice, in 1984 and 1988. His vision was the creation of a radically inclusive "Rainbow Coalition," a philosophy advocating for solidarity among marginalized communities, including Native Americans, Latinos, working-class Americans, and the poor. Through this movement, he sought to place the voices of minorities at the heart of American political life.
​The Ordre de l'Étoile du Sud pays tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson's steadfast commitment to justice, dignity, and human rights, and extends its deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and all who have been inspired by his work.
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​Website: www.ordredeletoiledusud.fr

Ordre de l'Etoile du Sud
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06270 Villeneuve Loubet
FRANCE

The Ordre de l'Étoile du Sud is the official NGO of the Kingdom of Araucanie and Patagonia. Under the honorary presidency of Prince Antoine V, our organization is dedicated to defending human rights and promoting social justice. We serve as a primary diplomatic and humanitarian voice, supporting the Mapuche people in their struggle for the recognition of their fundamental rights, the protection of their ancestral lands, and the preservation of their unique cultural identity on the international stage.

This release was published on openPR.