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 a prominent American civil rights activist, politician, and Baptist minister. Rising to prominence under Martin Luther King Jr., he has been a consistent voice for civil rights for over 70 years. He served as a shadow delegate and senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. Jackson is the father of former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. and current U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Assassination

On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Jesse Jackson was present and gave conflicting accounts of the event.

1973: PUSH Campaign Against Roe v. Wade

In 1973, less than a month after the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, Jesse Jackson began a PUSH campaign against the decision, calling abortion murder and suggesting that Jesus and Moses might not have been born if abortion had been available.

1975: Endorsement of Abortion Ban Amendment

In 1975, Jesse Jackson endorsed a plan for a constitutional amendment banning abortion.

1977: Arguments Against Roe v. Wade

In 1977, Jesse Jackson argued in a National Right to Life Committee News report that the basis for Roe v. Wade—the right to privacy—had also been used to justify slavery.

1978: Meeting with James Earl Ray

In 1978, Jesse Jackson met with James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., and expressed his belief that Ray was involved but did not act alone.

1984: Jackson Addresses Democratic National Convention

In 1984, Jesse Jackson addressed the Democratic National Convention, offering an apology alluding to his comments considered derogatory to Jews and affirming his loyalty to the party in the general election.

1984: Controversy Over Remarks About Jews

In 1984, Jesse Jackson was criticized for using pejorative terms for Jews in private remarks to a reporter, assuming they would not be published. The situation was worsened by Louis Farrakhan's warning to anyone who would harm Jackson. Jackson later apologized for the remarks but did not denounce Farrakhan's warning.

1987: Jackson's Role in Chicago Mayoral Election

During the 1987 Chicago mayoral election, Jesse Jackson led an effort to prevent the campaign's deterioration and avoid dissension within the Democratic party regarding Harold Washington's reelection.

1989: Regier Endorses Spanking

In 1989, Jerry Regier co-chaired a group that endorsed spanking to the point of bruises and welts and opposed married women having careers. This was brought up by Jackson during Regier's 2002 nomination for the Department of Children and Families, drawing criticism.

1998: Yusef and Jonathan Jackson 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, which led to controversy.

April 1999: Jackson Negotiates Release of U.S. POWs in Yugoslavia

In April 1999, during the Kosovo War, Jesse Jackson traveled to Belgrade and negotiated 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.

May 1999: Birth of Daughter Ashley

In May 1999, Jesse Jackson had a daughter named Ashley with Karin Stanford.

August 1999: Payments to Karin Stanford

In August 1999, the Rainbow Push Coalition paid Karin Stanford $15,000 in moving expenses and $21,000 in payment for contracting work.

November 18, 1999: Jesse Jackson Addresses Decatur High School Expulsions

On November 18, 1999, Jesse Jackson intervened in the case of seven Decatur, Illinois, high school students who were expelled for two years following a brawl at a football game. Jackson argued that these expulsions were racially biased and unfair, urging the school board to reverse their decision.

March 2000: Criticism of Giuliani

In March 2000, Jesse Jackson criticized Rudy Giuliani's handling of the Patrick Dorismond shooting.

January 20, 2001: Jackson Requests Pardons from Clinton

On January 20, 2001, Bill Clinton's final day in office, Jesse Jackson had requested pardons for Congressman Mel Reynolds, John Bustamante, and Dorothy Rivers, which Clinton granted. Jackson had also requested a pardon for his half-brother Noah Robinson who had been convicted of murdering Leroy Barber, but Clinton denied this request because Robinson had already submitted three pardon appeals that the Justice Department had denied.

2001: Revelation of Affair and Child Support

In 2001, Jesse Jackson's affair with Karin Stanford and the birth of their daughter Ashley became public, leading to a temporary withdrawal from activism. Jackson was paying $4,000 a month in child support as of 2001.

2002: Jackson Criticizes Bush's Nomination

In 2002, Jesse Jackson criticized Florida Governor Jeb Bush's nomination of Jerry Regier for the Department of Children and Families, citing Regier's endorsement of spanking in a 1989 paper. Jackson linked Regier's views to Bush's ideology.

2002: Jackson on Democracy and Faces Lawsuit

In 2002, Jesse Jackson discussed the evolution of democracy and faced a lawsuit from African Americans Against Exploitation Inc., alleging misrepresentation. He dismissed the lawsuit as baseless. That year, Jackson was also the target of a white supremacist terror plot.

September 1, 2003: Jackson Arrested at Yale Protest

On September 1, 2003, Jesse Jackson was arrested for blocking traffic at Yale University during a protest in solidarity with striking workers. He was the first person to be handcuffed.

June 2004: Jackson Rebukes Bush on Voter Purge

In June 2004, Jesse Jackson criticized Florida Governor Jeb Bush for requesting counties to purge felons from voting rolls, calling it a tactic to deny voting rights based on race and class. Bush responded by calling Jackson's comments outrageous and said the civil rights leader was past his prime.

August 2005: Jackson Meets with Hugo Chávez in Venezuela

In August 2005, Jesse Jackson traveled to Venezuela to meet with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez after controversial remarks by televangelist Pat Robertson about assassinating Chávez. Jackson condemned Robertson's remarks and stated 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 Tuition Support in Duke Lacrosse Case

In March 2006, Jesse Jackson stated that his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition would pay for the college tuition of the accuser in the Duke University lacrosse case, regardless of the case's outcome. The case was later dismissed, and the players were declared innocent.

November 2006: Jackson Responds to Michael Richards' Racist Tirade

In November 2006, Jesse Jackson played a key role in addressing the controversy caused by Michael Richards's racist tirade at the Laugh Factory. Richards apologized to Jackson, who accepted the apology and met with him publicly. Jackson also joined Black leaders in calling for the elimination of the "N-word" in the entertainment industry.

March 2007: Jackson Supports Obama, Later Criticizes Him

In March 2007, Jesse Jackson declared his support for Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries. However, later in 2007, he criticized Obama for "acting like he's white" in response to the Jena 6 beating case.

June 23, 2007: Jackson Arrested at Gun Store Protest

On June 23, 2007, Jesse Jackson was arrested for criminal trespassing during a protest at a gun store in Riverdale, Chicago. The protest was due to allegations that the store was selling firearms to local gang members. Jackson refused to stop blocking the entrance.

July 6, 2008: Jackson's "Cut His Nuts Off" Comment

On July 6, 2008, during an interview with Fox News, Jesse Jackson was caught on microphone saying he wanted to "cut Barack's nuts off" due to Obama's comments on Black fathers. Jackson later apologized and reiterated his support for Obama. He attended Obama's victory rally in Chicago.

November 2009: Congressional Black Caucus Honors Jackson

In November 2009, the Congressional Black Caucus honored Jesse Jackson for the 25th anniversary of his 1984 presidential campaign. He criticized black people voting against the health care bill, which was interpreted as a dig at Representative Artur Davis.

August 2010: Jackson Participates in Detroit "Jobs, Justice and Peace" March

In August 2010, Jesse Jackson participated in the "Jobs, Justice and Peace" march in Detroit. He stated the march aimed to highlight Detroit's need for a focused urban policy for Obama and other leaders. Shannon Jones criticized the march as a Democratic Party rally supporting wage cuts and military violence.

2011: Obama's Antipathy for Jackson

In 2011, Wayne Barrett suggested that Barack Obama's embrace of Al Sharpton was influenced by his antipathy towards Jesse Jackson, Dr. Cornel West, and Tavis Smiley.

February 2012: Jackson Demands Arrest in Trayvon Martin Case

In February 2012, following the shooting of Trayvon Martin, Jesse Jackson joined Martin's parents in demanding the arrest of George Zimmerman and called for the repeal of stand-your-ground laws. After Zimmerman's acquittal, Jackson refused to accept it and called for civil rights charges. The Justice Department, however, did not find sufficient evidence of civil rights violations.

July 2013: Jackson Advocates for Marissa Alexander

In July 2013, Jesse Jackson met with Marissa Alexander and called for Angela Corey to reduce Alexander's 20-year sentence. He contrasted her sentence with George Zimmerman's acquittal in the Trayvon Martin case.

2013: Jackson Attends Hugo Chávez's Funeral

In 2013, Jesse Jackson attended the funeral of Hugo Chávez. Jackson told Wolf Blitzer that "democracies mature" and incorrectly stated that the first 15 U.S. presidents owned slaves, adding that the U.S. had come "a mighty long way" since then.

2016: Jackson Endorses Hillary Clinton after Initially Declining

In 2016, Jesse Jackson initially declined to endorse either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders but endorsed Clinton after she secured the Democratic nomination. He criticized Donald Trump's past involvement in the birther movement and urged voters to support Clinton over Trump, citing concerns about the Affordable Care Act and Supreme Court appointments.

January 2018: Accusation of Trump's Misleading Nature

In January 2018, Jesse Jackson delivered a sermon in Fort Washington, Maryland, where he accused Donald Trump of being misleading and criticized him as a "man of inherited wealth and privilege" lacking understanding of others' situations.

February 2019: Condemnation of Jussie Smollett Attack and Trump's Rhetoric

In February 2019, Jesse Jackson condemned the reported attack on Jussie Smollett as a "barbaric lynching" and criticized Donald Trump for emboldening bigots through his rhetoric, even though Trump condemned the assault as well.

June 2019: Comments on Biden's Stance on School Busing

In June 2019, Jesse Jackson expressed that he did not understand Joe Biden's previous support for segregated school busing but believed "he's changed". He also voiced his opposition to states' rights.

June 2020: Praise for Mayor Fischer and Criticism of Senator Paul

In June 2020, following the killing of Breonna Taylor, Jesse Jackson commended Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer for announcing a review of police conduct and policies and criticized Senator Rand Paul for delaying a bill aimed at making lynching a hate crime.

June 2022: Roe v. Wade Overruled

In June 2022, the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson.

May 2024: Views on the Gaza War

In May 2024, Jesse Jackson wrote about the Gaza war in The Chicago Maroon. While condemning the October 7 attacks, he criticized Israel's response as an attack on Palestinian civilians and a massacre. He also voiced support for pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, drawing parallels to divestment campaigns for South Africa.