Today, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement:

"It is with profoundly heavy hearts that the Congressional Black Caucus mourns the passing of the civil rights leader and American icon, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. We extend our sincerest condolences to our friend and colleague, Rep. Jonathan Jackson; our former CBC colleague, former Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.; and the entire Jackson family during this extraordinarily difficult time.

"From a young age, Reverend Jackson was deeply engaged in the Civil Rights Movement - first as a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and later as the founder and national director of Chicago's Operation Breadbasket. He marched in Selma, Alabama alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the late Rep. John Lewis, standing on the front lines in the fight for voting rights, justice, and equality. As founder of Operation PUSH in 1971 and the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984 - organizations that would later merge to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition - Reverend Jackson has for decades been at the forefront of promoting social justice, equality, and economic empowerment.

"In 1984, Rev. Jackson broke barriers, running for the Democratic presidential nomination and becoming the first African-American to run and win in statewide primaries and caucuses, garnering over 3 million votes. Through his historic presidential campaigns and decades of organizing, Rev. Jackson helped break open doors for Black political power in this nation, expanding the electorate, building multiracial coalitions, and paving the way for a new generation of Black elected leaders. And in 1991, Rev. Jackson would be elected as the "shadow" U.S. Senator from Washington, D.C., in the ongoing effort to secure D.C. statehood.

"Among his many accomplishments - and across decades of service to our community and our nation as an activist, religious leader, and political trailblazer - Rev. Jackson will be remembered most for his unparalleled courage and moral clarity that will stand the test of time. Reverend Jackson's lifelong commitment to justice and equality for all will continue to inspire generations. May he rest in peace."