The Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the advocacy organization founded by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died on Tuesday, was the platform through which the civil rights leader advanced his vision for social justice and his political ambitions.
The organization grew out of the work of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the civil rights group founded by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and others in 1957. Mr. Jackson became a full-time organizer for the S.C.L.C. in 1965, according to his biography on the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s website. He was soon tapped to run Operation Breadbasket, the group’s economic development program.
After Dr. King was assassinated in 1968, Mr. Jackson clashed with the other members of Mr. King’s inner circle, including the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, the new head of the S.C.L.C. Three years later, Mr. Jackson broke away to establish Operation PUSH, which stood for People United to Save Humanity. Later on, the group changed the “S” to “Serve” from “Save.”
The organization began with a focus similar to that of Operation Breadbasket, with the aim of improving the economic opportunities for Black communities. It used direct action campaigns to support Black businesses. It also pushed companies to hire more Black and minority executives, and work more with Black suppliers. The organization also created inner-city education programs and helped young people find jobs.
As Mr. Jackson’s ambitions expanded, so did the organization. In 1984, as Mr. Jackson began his first presidential bid, he founded the National Rainbow Coalition in Washington, a social justice campaign group with the aim of changing public policy.
In 1996, the organizations merged to become the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Still headquartered in Chicago, it has offices nationwide, and also became the vehicle for Mr. Jackson’s work overseas.
More recently, the organization joined a boycott of Target after the retailer rolled back its diversity, equality and inclusion program in 2025. In January, members of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition visited Minneapolis, after protests there against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation.
Mr. Jackson retired from his role leading the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 2023.
“I want to see us grow and prosper,” he said when he announced his plan to step down. “We have the ability to build on what we’ve established over the years.”
Lynsey Chutel is a Times reporter based in London who covers breaking news in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
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