In a moving ceremony at City Hall, Mayor Brandon Johnson presented the Key to the City to Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. on his 83rd birthday (Photo Credit: Chicago Mayor’s Office).
In a powerful celebration of a lifetime dedicated to social justice and equality, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. was awarded the Key to the City of Chicago on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The ceremony, held on the fourth floor of City Hall, marked the civil rights icon’s 83rd birthday and was attended by family, friends, city officials, and longtime admirers.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, who presented the honor, praised Jackson for his tireless commitment to civil rights, highlighting his lasting influence. “We thank you that the long road to freedom is a little bit shorter now,” Johnson said, reflecting on Jackson’s six decades of activism.
Photo Credit: Chicago Mayor’s Office
The event featured an emotional tribute from Jackson’s son, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, who expressed gratitude to the city for its support of his father, especially when Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. appointed Jackson to lead the Chicago chapter of Operation Breadbasket nearly 60 years ago. “I think it’s entirely appropriate to give great men and great women flowers while they can still smell them,” Jonathan Jackson said.
As Mayor Johnson handed Jackson the key to the city, he noted that Jackson’s work will continue to inspire future generations. The tribute was a fitting recognition of a lifetime spent in the pursuit of justice and equality for all.
ABC 7 Chicago contributed to this report.
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