Operation HOPE honors the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., a historic civil rights leader whose lifelong work helped expand economic opportunity and strengthen American democracy.

Reverend Jackson’s leadership helped elevate the importance of economic empowerment and access to capital as essential components of lasting progress. Through Operation PUSH, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and the Wall Street Project, he challenged institutions to expand access to leadership, ownership, and economic participation.

In the final chapter of Dr. King’s life, he began pivoting the movement toward economic justice through the Poor People’s Campaign, emphasizing that access to capital, jobs, and economic participation would define the next phase of the struggle. A young Reverend Jackson and Dr. King’s lieutenant, Ambassador Andrew Young, carried that work forward after his assassination, each advancing the mission in distinct but complementary ways. Reverend Jackson’s leadership in Operation Breadbasket helped translate civil rights into economic action, building on Reverend Leon Sullivan’s leadership and advancing complementary strategies focused on ownership, corporate engagement, and structural economic participation.

His work helped shape generations committed to expanding opportunity and strengthening economic dignity.

Operation HOPE remains committed to advancing financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment for all.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Jackson family, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and all those honoring his extraordinary life.