LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - The Reverend Jesse Jackson, the famed civil rights leader who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and later ran for president, passed away at the age of 84.
Jackson was a protege of Rev. King and became a leader of the civil rights movement for decades after King was assassinated in 1968. Jackson led a lifetime of political crusades, advocating for the poor and underrepresented on issues ranging from voting rights and job opportunities to education and health care. Rev. Lamont Monford with Philippian Church Missionary Baptist Church says Jackson was a person who really knew your name.
"He never relented as it related to civil rights and social justice, and he was not just for black people, he was for people who were different, disenfranchised and went through different negative circumstances," said Monford.
Jackson visited Lima in February of 2008, a month after unrest following the fatal police shooting of Tarika Wilson and the wounding of her one-year-old son. Monford said when they made the call for Jackson to come to town, he wanted to know the culture of the city.
Jackson spent a day meeting with local leaders, students, church officials, and the public. Monford adds he didn't come with a cookie cutter kind of conversation but was specific to the situation.
"He really wanted to meet and deal with the particular issue that we were dealing with at the tragedy of Tarika Wilson, but then he really insisted on wanting to have an audience with young people," said Monford. "One of his most noted saying is, 'I am somebody', and he wanted to make sure young people knew it doesn't matter where you start, it's where you end up. If you got lemons, you can get a little water and little sugar and make lemonade out of it, and I think that he set that example for everyone to follow."
Jackson leaves behind his wife of more than 60 years and six children.
