House Speaker Johnson Rejects Request for Jesse Jackson to Lie in Honor at Capitol

February 23, 2026

House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected a request from Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. 's family to have the civil rights leader lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol following his death at age 84.

Who is affected

Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.'s family
House Speaker Mike Johnson
The general public who would have attended a Capitol ceremony
Members of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition organization
Civil rights activists and the broader civil rights community
Democratic Party members and supporters influenced by Jackson's work

What action is being taken

Jackson's family is organizing memorial events including lying in repose at Rainbow PUSH headquarters in Chicago
Formal services are being planned in South Carolina and Washington, DC

Why it matters

This decision highlights ongoing questions about who receives the prestigious honor of lying in state or honor at the U.S. Capitol, particularly given that civilians like Rosa Parks and Billy Graham have previously received this recognition. Jackson was a transformative figure in American civil rights and politics who shaped the Democratic Party through his Rainbow Coalition, twice ran for president, and worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., making him arguably comparable in historical significance to other civilians who have been honored at the Capitol.

What's next

Jackson will lie in repose at Rainbow PUSH headquarters in Chicago next week, followed by formal services in South Carolina and Washington, DC.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint