Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Jesse Jackson
Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Jesse Jackson.
Jesse Jackson is an American civil rights activist, politician, and Baptist minister. He rose to prominence as a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. and has remained a leading figure in the civil rights movement for over seven decades. He served as a shadow delegate and senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He is the father of U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson and former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr.
12 hours ago : Jesse Jackson's Homegoing Service Celebrated by Biden, Obama, Clinton, Marking Civil Rights Legacy
Jesse Jackson's homegoing service in Chicago drew leaders like Biden, Obama, and Clinton, celebrating his civil rights legacy and the unfinished work of the Rainbow Coalition and his homegoing service remembered his impact.
April 4, 1968: Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Jesse Jackson was present and gave conflicting accounts of the event.
1978: Meeting with James Earl Ray
In 1978, Jesse Jackson met with James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., and stated that Ray was involved in the assassination but did not act alone.
1983: Boycott against Anheuser-Busch
In 1983, Jesse Jackson and Operation PUSH led a boycott against beer giant Anheuser-Busch.
1984: Addressed the Democratic National Convention
In 1984, Jesse Jackson addressed the Democratic National Convention, offering an apology for comments considered derogatory to Jews and affirming his loyalty to the party. He called for unity among all groups.
1984: Request to Halt Execution
In 1984, Jesse Jackson and Coretta Scott King requested Florida governor Bob Graham to halt the execution of James Dupree Henry.
1984: Controversial Remarks and Apology
In 1984, Jesse Jackson faced criticism for using derogatory terms for Jews in remarks to a reporter. The situation was exacerbated by Louis Farrakhan's warning to Jews. Jackson publicly apologized but did not denounce Farrakhan's statement, leading to a lasting rift with the Jewish community.
1987: Involvement in Chicago Mayoral Election
During the 1987 Chicago mayoral election, Jesse Jackson led an effort to prevent the campaign's deterioration and avoid "dissension and splintering of the Democratic vote".
1989: Criticism of Regier Paper
In 2002, Jesse Jackson joined Democrats in criticizing a 1989 paper co-chaired by Jerry Regier, nominated for the Department of Children and Families, that endorsed spanking to the point of bruises and welts and opposed married women having careers.
September 1996: Visit to Tupac Shakur in the Hospital
In September 1996, Jesse Jackson visited rapper Tupac Shakur in the hospital after he was wounded in a drive-by shooting. Jackson commented on the violent culture, which was criticized by SFGATE.
1998: Clinton-Lewinsky Affair and Impeachment
In 1998, Jesse Jackson voiced his opposition to President Clinton's impeachment, stating that "the punishment of impeachment does not correspond to the nature of Mr. Clinton's lack of candor."
1998: Yusef and Jonathan chosen to head River North Sales
In 1998, Yusef and Jonathan Jackson were chosen by Anheuser-Busch to head River North Sales, a Chicago beer distribution company, leading to controversy.
April 1999: Negotiated release of U.S. POWs in Belgrade
In April 1999, during the Kosovo War and NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia, Jesse Jackson traveled to Belgrade to negotiate the release of three U.S. POWs captured on the Macedonian border. He met with then-Yugoslav president Slobodan Milošević, who agreed to release the men. The Clinton administration did not sanction Jackson's negotiation.
August 1999: Rainbow Push Coalition payment to Karin Stanford
In August 1999, the Rainbow Push Coalition paid Karin Stanford $15,000 for moving expenses and $21,000 for contracting work.
November 18, 1999: Decatur High School Expulsions
On November 18, 1999, after seven Decatur, Illinois, high school students were expelled for a brawl, Jesse Jackson argued that the expulsions were unfair and racially biased, calling for the school board to reverse its decision.
March 2000: Criticism of Giuliani's Handling of Dorismond Shooting
In March 2000, Jackson criticized Giuliani's handling of the Patrick Dorismond shooting, sparking a response from Giuliani's mayoral spokesman.
January 2001: Affair Revealed
In January 2001, it was revealed that Jesse Jackson had an affair with a staffer, Karin Stanford, which resulted in the birth of a daughter, Ashley, in May 1999. This controversy led to a temporary withdrawal from activism and the cancellation of CNN's 'Both Sides with Jesse Jackson'.
2002: Jackson criticizes Jeb Bush's appointee
In 2002, Jackson criticized Governor of Florida Jeb Bush's nomination of Jerry Regier for the Department of Children and Families, citing Regier's support for controversial views on corporal punishment and women's roles.
2002: Jackson Targeted by White Supremacist Terror Plot and Lawsuit
In 2002, Jesse Jackson said there was "a new America" and the world was abandoning the Jeffersonian democracy that coexisted with slavery in favor of "King democracy". Also that year, Jackson was the target of a white supremacist terror plot and was sued by African Americans Against Exploitation Inc.
June 2004: Jackson rebukes Bush on voting rolls
In June 2004, Jesse Jackson rebuked Jeb Bush for requesting counties purge felons from voting rolls, calling it "a typical South (tactic), denying the right to vote based on race and class."
August 2005: Met with Hugo Chávez in Venezuela
In August 2005, Jesse Jackson traveled to Venezuela to meet Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, following controversial remarks by televangelist Pat Robertson. Jackson condemned Robertson's remarks. After meeting with Chávez and addressing the Venezuelan Parliament, Jackson said there was no evidence that Venezuela posed a threat to the U.S.
2005: FEC fines Jackson and DNC
In 2005, the Federal Election Commission ruled that Jesse Jackson and the Democratic National Committee had violated electoral law and fined them $200,000.
March 2006: Jackson offers to pay tuition for Duke Lacrosse accuser
In March 2006, Jesse Jackson stated that his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition would pay for the rest of the college tuition of the African-American woman who accused three white members of the Duke University men's lacrosse team of raping her.
November 2006: Jackson plays key role in Michael Richards scandal
In November 2006, Jesse Jackson took a key role in the scandal caused by Michael Richards's onstage racist tirade at the Laugh Factory. Richards called Jackson a few days after the incident to apologize; Jackson accepted Richards' apology and met with him publicly as a means of resolving the situation. Jackson also joined Black leaders in a call for the elimination of the "N-word" throughout the entertainment industry.
July 6, 2008: Jackson Criticizes Obama
On July 6, 2008, during an interview with Fox News, a microphone picked up Jesse Jackson whispering to fellow guest Reed Tuckson: "See, Barack's been, ahh, talking down to black people on this faith-based... I want to cut his nuts off." Jackson was expressing his disappointment in Obama's Father's Day speech chastising absent Black fathers.
November 2009: Jackson comments on Obama's health care reform proposal
In November 2009, Jesse Jackson commented on Obama's health care reform proposal, stating, "You can't vote against health care and call yourself a black man."
February 2012: Jackson Joins Martin's Parents in Demanding Arrest
Following the shooting of Trayvon Martin in February 2012, Jesse Jackson joined Martin's parents as they demanded the arrest of his killer, George Zimmerman, and called for repealing stand-your-ground laws to discourage "vigilante" behavior.
2013: Attended Hugo Chávez's Funeral
In 2013, Jesse Jackson attended Hugo Chávez's funeral. Jackson told Wolf Blitzer that "democracies mature" and incorrectly said that the first 15 U.S. presidents owned slaves. He ended by saying that the U.S. had come "a mighty long way" since then.
January 2018: Jackson criticizes Trump
In January 2018, Jesse Jackson delivered a sermon in Fort Washington, Maryland, accusing Trump of being misleading and lacking understanding of the situation of many Americans.
February 2019: Response to Jussie Smollett attack
In February 2019, Jesse Jackson responded to the reported hate crime assault on Jussie Smollett, calling it a "barbaric lynching." He criticized Trump for allegedly emboldening bigots and later requested leniency for Smollett after he was charged with falsifying the attack.
June 2019: Comments on Biden's stance on school busing
In June 2019, as Joe Biden prepared to speak at Rainbow PUSH, Jesse Jackson expressed his reservations about Biden's prior support for segregated school busing, stating that he believed Biden had changed his views on the matter.
June 2020: Reaction to Breonna Taylor Killing
In June 2020, following the killing of Breonna Taylor, Jesse Jackson praised Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer for initiating a review of police conduct and policies. He also criticized Senator Rand Paul for delaying a bill aimed at classifying lynching as a hate crime.
August 3, 2021: Arrest for protesting for voting rights
On August 3, 2021, Jesse Jackson was arrested with others while protesting for Congress to end the filibuster, protect voting rights, and raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.
2024: Value of the fine in 2024
In 2005, the Federal Election Commission ruled that Jackson and the Democratic National Committee had violated electoral law and fined them $200,000 (equivalent to $307,800 in 2024).
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