New York Senate Adopts Resolution Mourning Reverend Jesse Jackson

The New York State Senate on Feb. 23 adopted Resolution 16-36 memorializing Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson and recognizing his decades of work in civil rights, voter registration and economic justice.

Lawmakers delivered tributes across the chamber during an extended series of remarks. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins introduced the resolution, and senators praised Jackson’s role in founding Rainbow/PUSH, his presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 and his decades of organizing to expand the electorate and press for economic fairness.

Senator Sanders said Jackson’s campaigns and organizing ‘‘filled arenas’’ and recounted personal experiences campaigning in New York. Senator Bailey recalled Jackson’s cultural impact and cited his message ‘‘I am somebody’’ as formative for generations of Black New Yorkers. Senator Comrie called Jackson ‘‘a moral compass and a voice for the voiceless,’’ and Senator Fahey — a Chicago native — described Jackson’s influence on voter turnout and civic participation.

Several senators connected Jackson’s organizing legacy to contemporary policy debates. Senator Brissport urged that the organizers who will gather at the Capitol for a ‘‘tax the rich’’ mobilization are carrying forward Jackson’s coalition-building work. Senators emphasized translating memory into policy by pursuing laws that expand access to health care, housing and voting rights.

The chamber took the question by voice vote and the resolution was adopted. The resolution directs that an engrossed copy be transmitted to Jackson’s family with the chamber’s sympathy and gratitude.

The Senate then opened the day’s calendar for cosponsorship and moved on to legislative business.