Jesse Jackson visits Memphis to mark anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death – Commercial Appeal

The Rev.Jesse Jacksonreturned to Memphis on Monday to markthe54th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther KingJr.'s assassination.

King was killedat the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on April 4, 1968.

Jackson,then a 26-year-old rising figure in the civil rights movement,wasinMemphis with King for the sanitation workers strike and witnessed his assassination that evening on the balcony.

At the time, Jackson was a worker for King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference and helped found Operation Breadbasket. He hasdedicated his career to advocating for human rights domestically and abroad.

Jackson has spokenin-depth about the impact the assassination has had on him and the country.

On Monday, Jackson was accompanied by Pastor Peris Lester of Mount Olive Church; Bishop Henry Williamson, presiding prelate of the First Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; and family friend Joseph Kyles, nephew of legendary civil rights leader the late Rev. Samuel (Billy) Kyles, who was one of the last people to speak with King before he died.

Jackson visited The Commercial Appeal offices around 10 a.m. to share reflections on King's assassination and the sustained fight forvoting rights for Black people, Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court nominationand the role of the press during times of civil unrest.

Jackson emphasized the necessity for nonviolent conflict resolution, addressing current events including the war in Ukraine and the incident involvingChris Rock and Will Smith at the Oscars.

"We have to teach conflict resolution in our schools," he said.

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Jackson also addressed the shooting of unarmed Black men by police and gun violence in communities.

"We must be able todefend ourselves and not be nave about violence," he said. "We mustlearn the skills of deescalating violence. Our children must be able to let their aggression out in organized... ways."

Jackson, who has publicly talked about his battle with Parkinsons disease, was aided by an assistant who was constantly by his side.

At noon, Jackson held a press conference atMt. Olive CME Church in Memphis. He energized the congregationwith a call and response.

"I am somebody. I am somebody. Respect me. Protect me. Keep hope alive," he said.

Anengaged crowd nodded and affirmed aloud:"Stop the violence. Save the children."

Some attendees recalledhow Jackson had touched their lives personally during school visits or marching by their side in protests. One family caught an overnight flight to be in his presence.

During the press conference, he advocated for free higher education, gender wage parity, an increased minimum wage and sustainable work practicesunder capitalism as necessary for the advancement of all people.Heoutlined the main legs of the movement as ending slavery, ending Jim Crow and gaining the right to vote,access to healthcareandaccess to capital. To achieve these, Jackson said, litigation, legislation and education are imperative.

Shelby County Commissioners RegnialdMilton and Eddie Jones and Memphis City Councilmember Cheyenne Johnson also paid their respects to Jackson, thanking him for his work.

Jackson was also scheduled to tour the historicCollins Chapel Connectional Hospital.

Later Monday, Jackson made an appearance on the Lorraine Motel balcony at the National Civil Rights Museum during the museum's commemoration of King. He sat in the front row as about 500 people gathered to honor the slain civil rights leader with music, speeches and a solemn wreath-laying ceremony.

Astrid Kayembe covers South Memphis, Whitehaven and Westwood. She can be reached atastrid.kayembe@commercialappeal.com,(901) 304-7929 or on Twitter @astridkayembe_.

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Jesse Jackson visits Memphis to mark anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s death - Commercial Appeal