Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley Orders Flags at Half-Staff at County Facilities in Honor of Reverend Jesse Jackson
MILWAUKEE – Today, County Executive David Crowley ordered the flags of the United States and the State of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff at Milwaukee County facilities in honor of the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, an American civil rights activist and transformative leader who dedicated his life to advancing equity, equality, and justice for all. The flags will fly at half-staff at Milwaukee County facilities through Saturday, February 28, 2026.
“Reverend Jesse Jackson was a civil rights icon and champion of progress. Whether we’re talking about his steadfast dedication to protecting voting rights, expanding economic and educational opportunities, or fighting for the freedoms of people everywhere, Reverend Jackson truly changed our nation for the better,” said County Executive Crowley. “I grew up in a country and world shaped by Reverend Jackson’s courage. Without the marches he led, the doors he opened, and the tenacity he led with, Black leaders like me would not be where we are today. Together, we honor his memory by carrying on his legacy of bringing people together to advance the ongoing pursuit of justice.”
Reverend Jesse Jackson was an American civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and political activist whose career spanned more than five decades at the forefront of social justice movements. Jackson first gained national prominence working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement. As a community organizer with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), he played a key role in initiatives focused on economic justice and voter registration. Following Dr. King’s assassination, Jackson continued the fight for racial equality by founding Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), later merging it into the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, an organization dedicated to advancing civil rights, labor rights, and equal opportunity. Jackson ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 1984 and 1988 elections. Throughout his career, Reverend Jackson was a persistent advocate for nonviolence, educational access, and international human rights.
This past Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, County Executive Crowley joined Congresswoman Gwen Moore and the community to celebrate the legacy of Reverend Jackson and his contributions to Milwaukee County. Crowley presented an executive proclamation in Reverend Jackson’s honor to his son, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, who represents Illinois’s 1st congressional district. A picture of the proclamation ceremony is below.
Photo from County Executive Crowley’s office.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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