CHICAGO – Just days before what would have been Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s 85th birthday, State Senator Mattie Hunter joined the Jackson family and the Illinois Department of Transportation to designate part of Interstate 57 as the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Expressway.
“Rev. Jackson spent his life fighting for people who too often went unseen and unheard,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “Today, on his birthday, every driver who travels this expressway will be reminded of a man who never stopped working for justice, opportunity and dignity for all. It was a privilege to stand with his family to honor him in the city he called home.”
Hunter led HRJ 58 in the Senate this spring, designating the portion of I-57 within Cook County in honor of Jackson who died in February.
The designation recognizes a lifetime of public service and gives Chicagoans and visitors a permanent tribute to Jackson's impact on the city, the state and the country.
Jackson rose from humble beginnings in the segregated South to become one of the most influential civil rights leaders in American history, eventually becoming a close aide to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and being present at the time of his assassination in 1968.
He made Chicago his home and the base of his activism, founding organizations like Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition in the city. Throughout his life, he also served as a diplomat and activist on the world stage, securing the release of hostages in multiple countries and leaving behind a powerful legacy of advocacy for civil rights, social justice and human dignity.
Jackson also visited the Illinois State Capitol many times throughout his life, and worked closely with a number of members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus – including Hunter.
“I carry Reverend Jackson’s words and his example into this work every single day,” said Hunter. “I am committed to honoring his legacy by continuing to fight for the people he spent his life defending.”
Hunter will continue to honor Jackson’s life and legacy.
