Acting Governor Tregenza A. Roach, Esq. has ordered that all Virgin Islands flags be flown at half-staff at Government House and on all public buildings from Thursday, Feb. 19 to sunset on Thursday, Feb. 26, in honor and remembrance of The Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., prominent civil rights leader, political activist, and ordained minister.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential activists of his era, Jesse Jackson, Sr. was a national and iconic figure who championed the rights of all people, and, in particular, civil rights for the poor, underprivileged, and underrepresented of this country. He was known for taking an active stance against police brutality, against institutionalized racism, and the oppression of all people of color.
Having worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement, Jesse Jackson, Sr. became one of the most prominent civil rights leaders of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Over the course of his career, he led a movement to bring America’s increasingly diverse population together, with a message that centered on poor and working-class citizens. After his presidential runs in 1984 and 1988, Jessee Jackson, Sr. subsequently positioned himself as an elder statesman within the Democratic Party.
Jesse Jackson, Sr. passed away on February 17, 2026. As a tribute to his many contributions to Civil Rights Movement and for being a champion for justice and equality, Acting Governor Roach has called upon all residents to pause in remembrance as the flags are lowered to honor the life and service of this extraordinary leader.
