President Cyril Ramaphosa has travelled to Chicago, Illinois, in the United States to honour the memory of the late Rev. Dr Jesse Louis Jackson. The Presidency confirmed on Friday that Ramaphosa would be among those gathered alongside the Jackson family, the PUSH Rainbow Coalition, prominent figures from the US civil rights movement, and various American and international dignitaries to pay their respects.
The President is set to deliver a tribute during the private homegoing celebration for Rev. Jackson, who passed away at the age of 84. Ramaphosa conveyed his profound sorrow at the clergyman's death, highlighting Jackson's enduring legacy in the fight against racial injustice both in America and abroad.
"Rev. Jesse Jackson's irrepressible campaigns against apartheid and his support for the liberation struggle was a towering contribution to the global anti-apartheid cause," Ramaphosa said.
The President further noted that in 2013, Rev. Jackson received South Africa's National Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo in Silver. The honour recognised his lifelong dedication to challenging societies and governments to acknowledge that all people are born equal and equally deserving of life, liberty, prosperity and human rights. The accolade also celebrated his outstanding contribution to the struggle against apartheid.
