Speaker Johnson says no to Jesse Jackson lying in honor at the Capitol

Johnson turns down the Jackson family’s request

House Speaker Mike Johnson said no to a request from Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s family to let the civil rights leader lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

Jackson, a two-time presidential candidate and protege of Martin Luther King Jr., died Feb. 17, 2026, at age 84. His family made the request shortly after his death, and several House Democrats backed it.

CNN first reported Johnson’s decision on Feb. 20.

Johnson’s office says precedent guided the call

Johnson’s office said the Rotunda is usually reserved for former presidents, military leaders, and certain government officials.

A GOP leadership source said the decision followed precedent and had nothing to do with politics.

The office also pointed out that similar requests for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who died in September 2025, and former Vice President Dick Cheney, who died in November 2025, got the same answer.

Both were turned down.

Two leaders must agree on the honor

The Capitol has two terms for this kind of tribute. “Lying in state” applies to government officials and military officers.

“Lying in honor” is the term for private citizens.

Both the House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader typically have to agree before anyone can lie in the Rotunda, and Congress generally needs to pass a resolution from both chambers.

There is no written rule spelling out exactly who qualifies.

A handful of private citizens have received it

The honor is rare, but private citizens have received it before. Civil rights icon Rosa Parks lay in honor in the Rotunda in 2005.

Rev. Billy Graham, the well-known Southern Baptist evangelist, received the same tribute in 2018. Capitol Police officers who died in the 1998 shooting and after the Jan. 6 attack also lay in honor.

The most recent person to lie in state was former President Jimmy Carter in January 2025.

NAACP calls the decision a mistake

NAACP President Derrick Johnson criticized the Speaker’s decision. The organization called Jackson a “civil rights legend” who deserved the tribute.

The criticism added to growing tension over how the Capitol honors prominent Americans.

The NAACP released a statement honoring Jackson’s life and legacy, making clear the group believes the denial was a missed opportunity to recognize decades of work in civil rights and public service.

Black Caucus looks for other Capitol options

The Congressional Black Caucus is working to find another way for Jackson to have a Capitol viewing.

A resolution from both chambers is needed for the Rotunda, but the Speaker controls other Capitol spaces, including National Statuary Hall.

The CBC plans to keep talking when members return to Washington for the State of the Union address.

Other Capitol locations that have hosted similar tributes include the Old Supreme Court Chamber and the East Central Front Portico.

Jackson’s family considers other Washington venues

The family has also been looking at locations outside the Capitol.

Options on the table include Howard University, the Washington National Cathedral, and the National Museum of African American History.

D.C. Councilman Zachary Parker called the denial “disgraceful” and urged Mayor Muriel Bowser to offer a District building for the honor.

Talks with lawmakers and city officials are still going on as the family works through its options.

Jackson’s daughter accepts the decision with grace

Jackson’s daughter, Santita Jackson, acknowledged the Speaker’s authority over the Capitol. She noted that others had the idea for the Rotunda honor and that the Speaker has the right to make that call.

The family said everyone is welcome at the memorial services regardless of political party. Jackson’s son Jesse Jackson Jr. asked that people attending be respectful and leave politics at the door.

The family’s focus now is on celebrating his life.

Services will span three states over two weeks

Jackson will lie in repose at Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago on Feb. 26 and 27. Formal services will take place in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., between March 1 and 5.

A public “People’s Celebration” is set for March 6 at House of Hope church in Chicago. Private homegoing services are scheduled for March 7 at Rainbow PUSH, with limited capacity.

The schedule covers about two weeks across three states.

Trump and Obama both pay tribute

President Trump called Jackson “a good man” with “lots of personality, grit, and street smarts.”

Former President Obama called him a true giant and credited Jackson with laying the foundation for his own presidential campaign. Rev. Al Sharpton said Jackson was a movement all by himself.

The tributes crossed party lines, with both Republicans and Democrats recognizing Jackson’s decades of activism and influence on American politics.

Jackson changed American politics for good

Jackson rose to prominence in the 1960s, working alongside Martin Luther King Jr. He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, winning millions of votes and registering more than a million new voters along the way.

He founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which became a major force for civil rights, voter engagement, and economic justice. He also built a global reputation by helping secure the release of American hostages abroad.

The Capitol honor debate grows larger

The question of who gets honored at the Capitol has become a sore spot in American politics. Since 1852, only about 43 people have lain in state or honor there.

The tribute has gone mostly to presidents, members of Congress, military leaders, and a small number of private citizens.

Jackson’s case, alongside the Kirk and Cheney denials, could shape how future requests are handled. The family’s memorial plans move forward regardless.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• ICE uses facial recognition technology in immigration enforcement
• House Passes Health Bill as 22 Million Americans Brace for Premium Spike
• Trump Scraps Coins Honoring Frederick Douglass and Ruby Bridges for 250th Anniversary