New York J 1636: Mourning the death of the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson and honoring his lifetime of service, leadership, and advocacy for civil rights and social justice

Bill Text

Bill Search and Legislative Information | New York State Assembly 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Skip to main content 

 New York State Assembly

 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

 --> 
 --> 

 --> 

• 
 Assembly Members 

• 
 Legislative Info 

• 
 Public Hearings 

• 
 Speaker's Press 

• 
 Assembly Reports 

• 
 Committees & More 

• Bill Search Home
• Laws
• Legislative Calendar
• Public Hearing Schedule
• Assembly Calendars
• Assembly Committee Agenda 

 Javascript must be enabled to properly view this page. 

 Bill No.: 

• Summary 
• Actions 
• Committee&nbspVotes 
• Floor&nbspVotes 
• Memo 
• Text 
• LFIN 
• Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript 
J01636 Summary:

BILL NOJ01636 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORSTEWART-COUSINS

&nbsp

COSPNSRSANDERS

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

&nbsp

Go to top J01636 Actions:

BILL NOJ01636 

&nbsp

02/20/2026REFERRED TO FINANCE

02/25/2026ADOPTED

Go to topJ01636 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topJ01636 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topJ01636 Text:

Assembly Resolution No. 988

BY: M. of A. Heastie

 MOURNING the death of the Reverend Jesse Louis
 Jackson and honoring his lifetime of service,
 leadership, and advocacy for civil rights and social
 justice

 WHEREAS, From time to time, the Legislature of the State of New York
pauses in its deliberations to recognize individuals whose lives have
profoundly shaped society and whose leadership, courage, and moral
conviction have left an enduring imprint on history, inspiring
generations to confront inequality, expand opportunity, and work toward
a more just and fair society; among the distinguished figures whose
lives embody these ideals, few have demonstrated such enduring courage,
moral clarity, and transformative impact as the Reverend Jesse Louis
Jackson; and

 WHEREAS, The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, born Jesse Louis Burns on
October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, rose from humble
beginnings to become one of the most influential civil rights leaders in
history, dedicating his life to the pursuit of justice, equality, and
human rights for Black Americans and all people; and

 WHEREAS, Reverend Jackson was raised in a segregated South, and was
surrounded by a community that instilled in him a deep sense of faith,
resilience, and responsibility; he went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in
sociology from the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina,
now known as North Carolina A&T State University; in 1964, he began his
theological studies at Chicago Theological Seminary but deferred his
studies when he began working full-time in the Civil Rights Movement
with the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; he was ordained on June
30, 1968 by Reverend Clay Evans and received his Master of Divinity
degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2000; and

 WHEREAS, Reverend Jackson emerged as a mentee and follower of the
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement,
standing alongside Dr. King in the final moments of his life in 1968,
and carrying forward the movement's moral and strategic legacy with
unwavering commitment; and

 WHEREAS, Reverend Jackson played a pivotal role in the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference's Operation Breadbasket, transforming it
into a national force for economic justice by negotiating employment
opportunities, corporate accountability agreements, and community
investment commitments that reshaped access to economic power for Black
Americans; and

 WHEREAS, Reverend Jackson strengthened the national movement for
justice by founding the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, uniting his earlier
organizations to advance political empowerment, economic opportunity,
and equal rights for underserved communities; through the Rainbow/PUSH
Coalition, Reverend Jackson championed voter registration, educational
equity, fair housing, and criminal justice reform, mobilizing millions
of Americans to participate in civic life and expanding the political
influence of historically marginalized communities; and

 WHEREAS, Reverend Jackson's groundbreaking 1984 and 1988
presidential campaigns galvanized a multiracial "Rainbow Coalition,"
elevating issues such as universal healthcare, workers' rights,
environmental justice, and international human rights, and opened doors
for future candidates of color to seek and hold the highest offices in
the nation; and

 WHEREAS, Reverend Jackson distinguished himself as a global
humanitarian and diplomat, negotiating the release of American hostages
and political prisoners in Syria, Cuba, Iraq, and other regions,
demonstrating a steadfast commitment to peace, dialogue, and the
protection of human life; and

 WHEREAS, Reverend Jackson was a tireless advocate for labor rights,
standing with workers across industries ranging from farmworkers to
airline employees to public sector unions, consistently affirming that
economic justice is inseparable from civil rights; and

 WHEREAS, Reverend Jackso