Atlantic City Leaders Reflect on the Legacy of Civil Rights Icon Jesse Jackson
Local activists Kaleem Shabazz and Steve Young remember Jackson’s visits to Atlantic City and his lasting influence on civil rights, coalition-building and political activism.
ATLANTIC CITY — The passing of Jesse Jackson on Feb. 16, 2026, has prompted reflection across the nation, including in Atlantic City, where local leaders say Jackson’s legacy of activism, coalition-building and hope helped shape generations of civil rights advocates.
Jackson, a longtime civil rights leader, preacher and political figure, rose to prominence working with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. before becoming one of the most recognizable voices for social justice in the United States. His efforts spanned voting rights, economic empowerment, labor advocacy and international diplomacy, and his presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 broke new ground for African American candidates in national politics.
Atlantic City Leaders Reflect on Jackson’s Legacy
Atlantic City Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz, who served as Atlantic County coordinator for Jackson’s 1984 presidential campaign, said the civil rights icon had a lasting connection to the city.
“I am happy to say that I knew Jesse Jackson. I worked with Jesse Jackson. I supported Jesse Jackson when he first ran for president in 1984,” said Shabazz. “We had rallies here in Atlantic City, including one at Price Memorial AME Church, where I was honored to serve as master of ceremonies.”
Shabazz said Jackson’s influence extended far beyond politics.
“He was a civil rights and social justice advocate, an international humanitarian and a champion of working people,” Shabazz said. “He was an advocate for union labor, a supporter of HBCUs, and a community organizer in the best sense of the word.”
Shabazz also highlighted Jackson’s ability to inspire civic engagement through faith and activism.
“Jesse Jackson was a motivator. He was a preacher, but more than that, he implemented his faith and belief in policies that impacted people,” Shabazz said.
A Message of Hope and Unity
Local activist Steve Young, who had a long-standing relationship with Jackson, said Jackson’s message resonated with communities searching for hope.
“When he ran for president, I drove down to Atlanta so I could see him be nominated,” Young said. “We even did security in Atlanta as well as here.”
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks at the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta, Georgia.
Although Jackson never received the Democratic Party’s official nomination, his presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 marked historic turning points. Jackson became the first African American to mount a viable national campaign for the Democratic nomination, winning millions of votes and several primaries. His campaigns fundamentally altered the Democratic Party, increasing Black voter participation and pushing issues such as economic inequality, apartheid in South Africa and peace diplomacy into the national conversation.
Young said Jackson’s leadership style reflected his close connection with everyday people.
“He was hands-on with people,” Young said. “Jesse told people to ‘keep hope alive,’ and people needed hope because they didn’t see any hope.”
Young added that before the rainbow became associated with the LGBTQ community, Jackson’s vision of unity through the Rainbow Coalition helped bring people of different backgrounds together.
“Jesse was putting all of the communities together,” Young said. “He was a good man, and we must pick up where he left off. We need more Jesse Jacksons.”
Jackson’s legacy continues to resonate not only nationally but also in communities like Atlantic City, where local leaders say his example reminds people that activism and civic engagement remain essential.
“Hope is still a very present need,” Young said. “The key now is for individuals to make progress in their own communities moving forward.”
National Memorial Honors Civil Rights Leader
On Friday, March 6, 2026, a public memorial was held in Chicago for Jackson, attended by former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, along with Vice President Kamala Harris. The public ceremony was a who's who of of celebrities and those adjacent to the movement. A smaller private memorial for close family and friends was held the following day.
From Civil Rights Movement to Global Influence
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson became one of the civil rights movement’s most visible and effective voices. After King’s assassination in 1968, Jackson helped carry forward the movement’s mission, translating protest into sustained political action.
In 1971, he founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), later expanding it into the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Through that work, he fused civil rights with economic justice, advocating for fair hiring practices, voting rights, labor protections and international human rights.
His “Rainbow Coalition” philosophy brought together Black communities, labor unions, faith leaders, progressives, immigrants and marginalized groups—an approach that redefined the possibilities of multiracial, multi-issue politics in America.
Jackson was also a global figure, often stepping into delicate international moments as a negotiator and advocate for peace and human rights. Whether calling for the release of political prisoners or challenging U.S. foreign policy, he consistently framed justice as a global responsibility.
A Legacy That Continues to Inspire
For communities like Atlantic City—where faith, activism, labor and political engagement have long intersected—Jackson’s life stands as a reminder of what organized moral leadership can achieve. He believed politics was not merely about power, but about people, dignity and the obligation to lift those pushed to the margins.
Jesse Jackson’s voice, cadence and call-and-response sermons helped define an era. His legacy endures in the coalitions he built, the doors he opened and the generations of leaders he inspired to keep marching, organizing and demanding justice.
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