The Rev. Jesse Jackson leads his Save the Dream march across the Tower Bridge on its way to the state Capitol on Oct. 27, 1997.
DICK SCHMIDT
Sacramento Bee file
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died on Tuesday, made many visits to California’s capital and Northern California as he campaigned for civil rights across the country.
Jackson, the first Black candidate to capture significant traction as a presidential candidate, visited the north state as he campaigned for that office.
He also led a significant series of marches against Proposition 209 — the 1996 initiative to end affirmative action in California. In 2009, he visited Sacramento to help kick off a volunteerism effort with then-mayor Kevin Johnson.
The venues Jackson spoke in Sacramento include Sacramento High School, Shiloh Baptist Church in Oak Park, the state Capitol and the Sacramento Boys and Girls Club.
Rev. Jesse Jackson raises his hand to quiet the crowd as during a May 1984 rally at Laney College in Oakland. DICK SCHMIDT Sacramento Bee file
The Rev. Jesse Jackson visits the Del Paso Early Childhood Education Center in Sacramento on May 23, 1988, where he led students in chants that included "I am somebody," "Down with dope, up with hope" and "Jackson action." RANDY PENCH Bee file/Center for Sacramento History
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks during a news conference in August 1988 in Delano on the 29th day of a water-only fast by labor leader Cesar Chavez. Jackson is flanked by Dolores Huerta, vice president of the United Farm Workers, and actor Robert Blake. FREDERIC BROWN Fresno Bee file
Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, left, confers with the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Oct. 12, 1991, during a convention of the Black American Political Association of California in Sacramento. RICHARD GILMORE Sacramento Bee file
The Rev. Jesse Jackson arrives outside the UC San Francisco-Laurel Heights facility on July 20, 1995, to speak to the Board of Regents against the proposed elimination of its affirmative action polices. DICK SCHMIDT Sacramento Bee file
Rev. Jesse Jackson makes his way from the podium after his speech at a rally during one-day strike at Hillhaven Nursing Home on Folsom Boulevard on Nov. 13, 1995. Sacramento Bee file
Reverend Jesse Jackson speaks to the congregation at Shiloh Baptist Church in Sacramento on Aug. 24, 1997. Jackson urged the church members to join a march in San Francisco to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s march on Washington and to protest Proposition 209. LAURA CHUN Sacramento Bee file
Reverend Jesse Jackson speaks to the congregation at Shiloh Baptist Church in Sacramento on Aug. 24, 1997. Jackson urged the church members to join a march in San Francisco this Thursday to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s march on Washington and to protest Proposition 209. LAURA CHUN Sacramento Bee file
The Rev. Jesse Jackson leads a march against Proposition 209 across the Golden Gate Bridge on Aug. 28, 1997, on the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s I have a Dream speech in Washington, D.C. CHRIS CREWELL Sacramento Bee file
Rev. Jesse Jackson, points to the students at Sacramento High School during a speech on Sept. 17, 1997, about the need to set goals. Jackson used anecdotes to deliver the importance of staying in school. HECTOR AMEZCUA Sacramento Bee file
Rev. Jesse Jackson shakes hands on Sept. 17, 1997, with the students from Sacramento High School who pledged to him to stay off drugs and become better students. Jackson also asked the student body to join him in his march against Proposition 209 to Sacramento. HECTOR AMEZCUA Sacramento Bee file
Rev. Jesse Jackson pauses for reflection on Oct. 22, 1997. Sacramento Bee file
The Rev. Jesse Jackson rallies about 150 Native Americans at DQ University near Davis about race relations on Oct. 25, 1997, before walking to Davis in the Save the Dream march. The march would end two days later with a rally at the Capitol. ANNE CHADWICK WILLIAMS Sacramento Bee file
The Rev. Jesse Jackson gives a thumbs up to the 300 plus crowd gathering in the quad at UC Davis on Oct, 26, 1997, the second day of his Save the Dream march, which would finish at the state Capitol the following day. ANNE CHADWICK WILLIAMS Sacramento Bee file
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, leads his Save the Dream march across the Tower Bridge on its way to the state Capitol on Oct. 27, 1997. DICK SCHMIDT Sacramento Bee file
Rev. Jesse Jackson walks with state Sen. Diane Watson, D–Los Angeles, during at Save the Dream march on Oct. 27, 1997. DICK SCHMIDT Sacramento Bee file
Gov Gray Davis talks with then state insurance commissioner John Garamendi as he leaves a labor rally in Oakland on Oct. 4, 2003 with Rev. Jesse Jackson, left, and Delores Huerta of the United Farm Workers Union. They were at a labor rally at the Teamsters hall for the governor’s “Just Say No" fly around campaign tour against the effort to recall him. JOHN DECKER Sacramento Bee file
Gov. Gray Davis speaks with Rev. Jesse Jackson, center, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein as he campaigns against the recall effort on Oct. 4, 2003. JOHN DECKER Sacramento Bee file
Rev. Jesse Jackson stands outside the gates of San Quentin Prison and talks to people protesting the death penalty on Feb. 9, 2004. Sacramento Bee file
Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder and president of PUSH/ Rainbow Coalition, addresses the California Assembly on March 9, 2009. BRIAN BAER Sacramento Bee file
Rev. Jesse Jackson discusses the importance of civic engagement at the Sacramento Boys and Girls club on March 2, 2009, during an appearance with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson to launch an effort to boost volunteerism in the community, RENÉE C. BYER Sacramento Bee file
Rev. Jesse Jackson, left, shakes hands with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson during an event at the Sacramento Boys and Girls club on March 2, 2009, to launch an effort to boost volunteerism in the community, RENÉE C. BYER Sacramento Bee file
Rev. Jesse Jackson stands while he is applauded after his speech where he discussed the importance of civic engagement at the Sacramento Boys and Girls club on March 2, 2009. RENÉE C. BYER Sacramento Bee file
Rev. Jesse Jackson smiles after he was given a Sacramento High sweatshirt at the Sacramento Boys and Girls club on March 2, 2009. He joined Mayor Kevin Johnson was joined to launch "Volunteer Sacramento," designed to boost volunteerism in the community, and make it the leading city in California for those efforts. RENÉE C. BYER Sacramento Bee file
The Rev. Jesse Jackson answers questions during a meeting with The Sacramento Bee editorial board on March 2, 2009, as Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson listens in the background. RANDY PENCH Sacramento Bee file
The Rev. Jesse Jackson answers questions during a meeting with The Sacramento Bee editorial board on March 2, 2009. Randy Pench Sacramento Bee file
This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 11:16 AM.
Bee visuals editor Nathaniel Levine joined the staff in 2003. His work has received awards from the Society of News Design, the Best of the West journalism competition and the California News Publishers Association, among others. A native Californian, Levine grew up in Grass Valley and attended UC Davis.
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