AIDS Healthcare Foundation mourns the passing of longtime civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died today at his home in Chicago after a long illness. Rev. Jackson was one of the first Black clergy to get tested publicly for HIV, helping to remove the stigma of the disease in the African American community. He was also among the earliest to urge his fellow clergy to join the response to HIV in the U.S. and abroad.
While perhaps best known for his close relationship with his mentor, the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Jackson helped secure the release of hostages, held corporate America accountable in fighting employment discrimination, and ran two groundbreaking campaigns for President of the United States. He worked tirelessly from a young age for the protection of civil and voting rights.
Rev. Jackson was also a vocal advocate for HIV awareness and prevention, calling for a fundamental shift in both behavior and attitudes toward the disease. “The world is a better place because of Jesse Jackson,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AHF. “May his memory be a blessing.”
