Rev. Jesse Jackson Remembered By Montco Lawmaker

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean is paying tribute to the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, who passed away earlier this week.

Dean said Jackson, who ran for president twice in his lifetime, was committed to a "More Perfect Union."

"There was not an oppressed group that he did not champion, not a societal issue that he did not engage with thoughtfully and fiercely," Dean said in a statement. "When he spoke — with his unmistakable, passionate oratory — people listened."

Jackson, who died on Tuesday, was a Civil Rights activist and protoge' of Dr. Martin Luther King. He carried the torch after King’s assassination, leading the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for human rights worldwide.

"From the time Jesse Jackson was a young student in Chicago, he dedicated himself entirely to the rights of African Americans," said Dean, who had the honor of meeting Jackson. "And when the world reeled from the shock and horror of Dr. King’s assassination, Jackson carried the profound tragedy of his mentor’s death as a torch."

For decades, Jackson mentored politicians, faith leaders, community organizers, and more — finding joy and hope in the struggle for true equality, Dean said.

"I admired him greatly, and I know his massive legacy will endure," Dean said. "My prayers are with his loving family."