As the country mourns the death of civil rights icon and activist Jesse Jackson, political and community leaders are praising Jackson with memorials and celebrations planned across the country. But Republicans appear to be denying Jackson the highest honor that the country affords to important figures upon their deaths.

Republicans respond to Jackson’s death

Journalist Roland Martin posted “BREAKING NEWS” on social media late Thursday evening, reporting, “House Speaker Mike Johnson has denied a request from Democrats and the family of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. For him to lie-in-state at the US Capitol, citing a recent rule change that the honor only be reserved for former presidents.” Martin noted in his post on X, formerly Twitter, “In 2005, Rosa Parks became the first and only citizen granted that honor in the Rotunda of the US Capitol,” noting in a subsequent post that Parks was the first of four citizens given the honor. Martin also included in the post a 2020 picture in which “Rev. Jackson pays his respects to Rep. John Lewis, who lay in state on the East Front steps of the Capitol,” noting that Lewis was the first Black legislator afforded that honor, which occurred in front of the Capitol instead of in the rotunda due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time.

Denying the Jackson family’s request adds to the impression that Republicans are playing politics concerning Jackson’s death. President Donald Trump posted a long social media message about Jackson, with whom he associated for many years, along with several pictures of the two of them at various functions.

Trump said of Jackson, “I knew him well, long before becoming President. He was a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and ‘street smarts.’” Trump also said, “Jesse was a force of nature like few others before him.” But Trump also used the post to boast about various policies he has implemented, such as “CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM” and economic “Opportunity Zones.” Trump additionally took shots at Democrats, particularly former President Barack Obama, saying that Jackson “had much to do with the Election, without acknowledgment or credit, of Barack Hussein Obama, a man who Jesse could not stand.”

Celebrations of Jackson’s life grow as family pleads to leave politics out of homegoing services

Despite the Capitol snub for the Jacksons, the family has indicated that an outpouring of love and respect for him has led them to expand their memorial plans beyond Chicago.

“Since announcing the details of Reverend Jackson’s Homegoing service yesterday, we have also heard from leaders in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., two places of profound significance to him,” the Jackson family said in a Thursday statement. “They have extended the extraordinary honor of allowing him to be celebrated in formal services in his native state of South Carolina and formal services in the nation’s capital-Washington, D.C.,” the family said of the services, which are being coordinated by Jackson’s widow, Jacqueline Jackson. “These viewings will be followed by official services in his beloved home, the city of Chicago on March 6 and 7.”

Speaking to the press earlier this week, before the announcement that Jackson would not lie in state in the Capitol, former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., offered a request to the public not to inject politics into the remembrance of his father.

“Do not bring your politics, out of respect to Reverend Jesse Jackson and the life that he lived, to these homegoing services,” adding, “These homegoing services are welcome to all: Democrat, Republican, liberal and conservative, right wing, left wing — because his life is broad enough to cover the full spectrum of what it means to be an American.”

Even though Jackson will not lie in state in Washington, D.C., he will be honored in the city, as well as have services in other places that played important roles in his life. Although Republicans may have started to politicize Jackson’s death, his family continues to celebrate Jackson’s life and legacy and his impact on everyone, across political parties and affiliations.