Mac Deford (pictured), Democratic candidate for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, released the following statement on the passing of the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., the civil rights leader, two-time presidential candidate, and South Carolina native who died this morning at the age of 84:
"Reverend Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina, into a world that told him where he could sit, where he could drink water, and what he could become. He spent his entire life proving that the world was wrong, not just for himself, but for every person this country tried to count out. Today, South Carolina and the nation mourn the loss of a truly extraordinary leader and American hero.
"He marched with Dr. King. He stood on that balcony in Memphis. And when the movement lost its greatest voice, Jesse Jackson picked up the work and carried it forward for six more decades. His Rainbow Coalition was an act of faith and a living conviction in what this country could be. He looked at a party that had left too many people behind and said: Everyone belongs at the table. The Democratic Party and the nation are stronger because of his courage and his vision.
"As a South Carolinian, I feel this loss deeply. Reverend Jackson carried the story of this state with him everywhere he went: the resilience of communities that refused to be silenced, and the unshakable belief that ordinary people could change the course of history if they had the courage to show up. He showed up. Every single time.
"The best way to honor Jesse Jackson's legacy is not with words alone. It is with work and service. It is by continuing the fight he gave his life to, for justice, for dignity, and for the belief that in America, every voice matters and every person counts. With that, let us keep working to secure peace and justice for all people and uphold the dignity of every human being.
"Keep hope alive."