Speaker Mike Johnson denies request for the Rev. Jesse Jackson to lie in honor in Capitol
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Speaker Mike Johnson has denied the request for Rev. Jesse Jackson to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol rotunda, a request made by Jackson’s family following his death at age 84.
- The tradition of lying in state or honor is typically reserved for former presidents, military leaders, and top government officials, with recent similar requests for Dick Cheney and Charlie Kirk also denied.
- While a few private citizens such as Rosa Parks and Rev. Billy Graham have lain in honor, the decision requires approval from both the House speaker and Senate majority leader, followed by a concurrent resolution.
- Rev. Jesse Jackson was a prominent civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate, with a family legacy in politics including his sons Jesse Jackson Jr. and Jonathan
