This morning, the world lost Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., a beloved civil and human rights icon who championed justice, equality, diversity, inclusion, and peace. The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) expresses our deepest sympathies to Reverend Jackson’s family, staff, and friends.

In the early days of Reverend Jackson’s civil rights activism, he worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King appointed him to serve as the first director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s (SCLC) Operation Breadbasket in Chicago, Illinois. After serving in this capacity and Dr. King’s death, he established Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), an organization dedicated to improving the economic conditions of African American communities across the United States, in 1971.

After his first presidential campaign in 1984, Reverend Jackson launched the National Rainbow Coalition which sought equal rights for all Americans. He ran for president in 1988 and served as a as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1996. He merged Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition in 1996.

Over the years, MMTC had the honor of working with Reverend Jackson and his organization, Rainbow PUSH Coalition on policy issues that advocated for diversity in corporate, media, and technology ownership and hiring. In 1997, he received MMTC’s Everett C. Parker Lifetime Achievement Award, our highest honor given to a distinguished citizen who has rendered the most distinguished service, over many years, to diversity and inclusion in the media and telecom industries.

“Rev. Jackson was a front-line fighter for civil rights his entire life. He was a true leader who never lost his way and wasn’t afraid to speak the truth. His spirit will live on in all of us who continue to stand and fight for social justice and equality,” said MMTC President and CEO Robert E. Branson.