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By Joe Edwards
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House Speaker Mike Johnson denied a request for the late Rev. Jesse Jackson to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, citing past precedent for how such honors are typically granted, according to reports.
Why It Matters
Jackson, who died this week at age 84, was a major figure in the American civil rights movement and twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, making the decision over Capitol honors symbolically significant.
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What To Know
Johnson’s office received the family’s request and said the Rotunda is generally reserved for former presidents, select officials, and the military, according to the Associated Press.
The outlet noted that there is no formal rule determining who qualifies to lie in state or lie in honor, and such ceremonies require the agreement of both the House and the Senate.
Per the Associated Press, the family and some House Democrats had filed a request.
A source familiar with Johnson’s decision told CNN the denial followed precedent and was not political; the source said requests for conservative activist Charlie Kirk and former Vice President Dick Cheney were also declined.
Newsweek reached out to Johnson's office for comment via email on Saturday.
The Hill noted that the most recent person to lie in state in the Rotunda was former President Jimmy Carter. Carter, the nation’s 39th president, died in 2024 aged 100.
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What People Are Saying
Jackson’s daughter Santita told ABC7 Chicago: “Other people had that idea, and the Speaker has authority over that branch of government and over the Capitol.
“I think that the Speaker has his decision. He has rendered it. What we want is for the people to get a chance to be with him."
Representative Troy Carter, a Louisiana Democrat said on X: "I have learned that the request for Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol has been denied.
"I respect tradition. But precedent should guide us, not limit us, especially when honoring a giant. Rev. Jackson stood with Dr. King. He registered millions to vote. He ran for President. He negotiated for hostages. He gave voice to the voiceless and strengthened our democracy.
"He may not have held federal office, but he shaped the moral conscience of this nation. The Capitol is the People’s House. Few served the people more faithfully. He is worthy of this honor."
The Jackson’s family said in a statement announcing his death: “Our father was a servant leader—not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.”
President Donald Trump called Jackson "a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and 'street smarts'" in a tribute following Jackson’s death.
What Happens Next
According to the Associated Press, the Jackson family has set dates for a series of memorial services beginning next week to honor the late reverend in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and South Carolina.
The family said in a statement that leaders in Jackson’s native state of South Carolina and in Washington have offered to host commemorations, and discussions with lawmakers about those plans are still underway.
His final memorial services are scheduled to take place in Chicago on March 6 and 7, the Associated Press reported.
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