‘A global hero’: Jesse Jackson’s legacy of activism around the world
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Jesse Jackson was an early and outspoken advocate for Palestinian statehood and rights, linking their struggle to the African American civil rights movement despite fierce opposition within the Democratic Party in the 1980s.
- Jackson's international activism extended beyond Palestine, including strong support for anti-apartheid efforts in South Africa, normalization of relations with Cuba, and successful negotiations to free US political prisoners in hostile countries like Syria, Iraq, and Serbia.
- His global perspective was rooted in solidarity among oppressed peoples, seeing struggles against racism, colonialism, and imperialism as interconnected, which influenced his progressive stance on foreign policy and diplomacy.
- Jackson helped mainstream Palestinian rights within African American political circles, shifting the discourse from nationalism to human rights, and maintained this commitment until
