Eric Holder Statement on the Passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson
Washington, D.C. — Today, Eric H. Holder, Jr., the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), issued the following statement in response to the passing of the Reverend Jesse Jackson:
“Jesse Jackson laid the foundation for the modern Democratic Party and took the goals of the Civil Rights Movement into new and needed areas. From organizing with Dr. King to his groundbreaking runs for President and his Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he spent decades shining a spotlight on the poor, disenfranchised, and downtrodden, and worked tirelessly to build a fairer, more inclusive America.
“In this moment, as our nation faces the greatest attack on the right to vote since the Jim Crow era, Reverend Jackson’s life and work remind us that progress does not happen by accident—it requires citizens willing to organize and fight for it. As we honor his life and legacy, I hope others will be inspired to continue his work toward a better, more just America. Jesse Jackson was a quintessentially good American to whom we all owe a great debt.”
###
Our fight is now. Are you in?
Every generation of Americans is called upon to defend democracy and to bring our nation closer to its founding ideals. It's now our time to act.