Posted by Half-Staff Alerts Staff on Mar 05, 2026
March 4, 2026 - Half-Staff Alert - California
Governor Gavin Newsom today ordered flags at the State Capitol and all state buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson as the nation prepares to lay him to rest.
Public memorial services for Reverend Jackson will be held on Friday in Chicago, with a private ceremony scheduled for Saturday.
As we pay our final respects to Reverend Jesse Jackson before he is laid to rest this weekend, I am ordering flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor. Reverend Jackson paved the righteous path that we now must walk to fulfill his vision of a better world, and his lifetime of lessons and wisdom leaves us well-prepared to do so.
Governor Gavin Newsom
Reverend Jesse Jackson was a giant among us, who spent his life pushing America to live up to its promise. His commitment reminds us that real progress happens when people from every background stand together in the pursuit of dignity and equality. As we honor his legacy, we are reminded that the work of justice is ongoing, and we must continue the fight for equity, opportunity, and fairness for all.
Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D.
California Legislative Black Caucus Chair
Flags will be lowered until Saturday at sunset.
Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom issued the following statement today on the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader:
“Jen and I mourn the loss of one of America’s greatest civil rights champions, Reverend Jesse Jackson. His footprints are found in every civil rights movement in modern history, both as a leader and as a supporter, lending his strength and his spirit to communities around the country. Here in California, he stood with farmworkers in the fields of the Central Valley, walked the streets of Los Angeles and Oakland calling for racial and economic justice, and visited campuses throughout the state, empowering a new generation of voters and activists.
“Rev. Jackson’s legacy is one of fellowship, reminding us that we must ‘turn to each other, not on each other.’ He challenged all of us to live up to the promise of equality and justice for all, not just the privileged few. So today, we grieve his loss – and tomorrow we honor the Reverend by picking up his mantle, by keeping hope alive, and fighting for the world he dreamed of.”