02/17/2026
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks on the steps of Louisville Metro Hall on June 6, 2020 following the death of Breonna Taylor.
Jackson, a civil rights activist and a protege of Martin Luther King Jr., died today at the age of 84.
Jackson visited several protest in Louisville during the height of demonstrations after the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Jackson was among the most influential civil rights leaders of his time, marching alongside Dr. King before his assassination in 1968. Jackson’s 1988 presidential run opened doors for scores of Black Democrats and provided building blocks for future campaigns, proving that white Americans were willing to vote for Black candidates.
Jackson’s activism propelled the Civil Rights Movement after the death of Dr. King, and helped paved the way for the 2008 presidential election of Barack Obama.
Photographed when my mother drove me to cover protest when I was 15.