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Homegoing service will celebrate civil rights leader Jesse Jackson in Chicago

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By Bill Chappell Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died last month, is being celebrated in Chicago, the city where he took his fight for civil rights after growing up in South Carolina during the segregation era. He's seen here in 2013, during an event at the historic Ben's Chili Bowl restaurant in Washington, D.C.
− Kris Connor/Getty Images hide caption The Rev.
+ Kris Connor/Getty Images hide caption For live updates of Rev.
− Jesse Jackson's loved ones will celebrate his life in Chicago on Friday, as his family hosts a memorial homegoing service that's open to the public, but will also be attended by dignitaries and celebrities.
+ Jesse Jackson's service, head to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun Times' live blog.
− Obituaries Longtime civil rights leader the Rev.
+ Former Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Bill Clinton are speaking at a celebration of the Rev.
− Jesse Jackson dies at 84 Former Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Bill Clinton are scheduled to speak at the service at the House of Hope, a megachurch on Chicago's South Side.
+ Jesse Jackson's life on Friday.
− Former Vice President Kamala Harris will also speak.
+ The service at the House of Hope, a megachurch on Chicago's South Side, is drawing a roster of luminaries to help Jackson's family observe a homegoing for the late civil rights leader.
− Other speakers include Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov.
+ "I am!
− J.B.
+ Somebody!" the crowd chanted as the former presidents made their way to their seats, repeating one of Jackson's trademark sentiments.
− Pritzker, along with the Rev. Al Sharpton and former NBA star Isiah Thomas.
+ The service began moments later.
The service will also feature performances by Chicago native Jennifer Hudson, along with gospel singers Bebe Winans and Pastor Marvin Winans.
− The event is slated to begin at noon ET and is expected to run for several hours.
+ The event was slated to begin at noon ET, but it was delayed more than 30 minutes as attendees greeted one another. The memorial is expected to run for several hours.
You can watch streaming video of the service here, along with live coverage from WBEZ in Chicago.
− The service — and another, private service on Saturday — will be officiated by faith leaders Dr.
+ Obituaries Longtime civil rights leader the Rev.
− Charles Jenkins and Rev.
+ Jesse Jackson dies at 84 Other speakers include former Vice President Kamala Harris, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Illinois Gov.
+ J.B. Pritzker, along with the Rev. Al Sharpton and former NBA star Isiah Thomas. Notable attendees include: California Gov. Gavin Newsom; former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich; former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley; Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois; and Mr. T. The service — and another, private service on Saturday — will be officiated by faith leaders Pastor Charles Jenkins and Rev.
James T. Meeks.
− Race Civil rights leaders say the racial progress Jesse Jackson fought for is under threat Program for Friday's memorial Below is the order of service, as planned: Musical Prelude: Legacy Mass Choir Call to Order: Officiants Rev.
+ Race Civil rights leaders say the racial progress Jesse Jackson fought for is under threat Below is the order of service, as planned: Musical Prelude: Legacy Mass Choir Call to Order: Officiants Rev.
James T.
− Meeks, pastor emeritus of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, and Dr.
+ Meeks, pastor emeritus of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, and Pastor Charles Jenkins, pastor emeritus of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago Scripture: Matthias Jackson, Old Testament; Atticus Jackson, New Testament Acknowledgements & Resolutions Prayers: Rev.
− Charles Jenkins, pastor emeritus of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago Scripture: Matthias Jackson, Old Testament; Atticus Jackson, New Testament Acknowledgements & Resolutions Prayers: Rev.
Michael I. Pfleger, pastor emeritus of Faith Community of St. Sabina (Chicago); Rabbi Sharon Brous, founder of IKAR (Los Angeles); Rev.
− Dr.
Otis Moss III, Trinity United Church of Christ (Chicago) Musical Selection: Hezekiah Walker, "Every Praise" Expressions: Rabbi Steven Jacobs, Progressive Faith Foundation; Pastor Steve Munsey, Family Christian Center; Judge Greg Mathis Opening: Yusef Jackson; Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker; Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Musical Selection: Opal Staples Expressions: James Reynolds, Jr., chairman and CEO, Loop Capital; C.K. Hoffler, board chair, Rainbow PUSH Coalition; Thomas S. Ricketts, chairman, Chicago Cubs; Isiah Thomas, NBA Hall of Famer; former President Barack Obama Musical Selection: Jennifer Hudson, "A Change Gonna Come" Expressions: Rev. Al Sharpton, founder, National Action Network; James Zogby, founder, Arab American Institute; Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego, president of the Republic of Colombia; former President Bill Clinton Video Tribute: Amadou Janaeh (Gambia); Andre Ramirez (former POW) Musical Selection: Le'Andria Johnson, "We Shall Overcome" Family Expression: Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
− Expressions: John Nichols; Rep.
+ Updates: The Fight Against Racial Injustice 'Marchers Are Full Of Hope': Civil Rights Leaders See Progress In Today's Movement Expressions: John Nichols; Rep.
Chuy Garcia (IL-04); Rep.
− Maxine Waters (CA-35); Pastor Jamal Bryant, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church (Stonecrest, Ga.) Musical Selection: Marvin Sapp, "Never Would Have Made It" Expressions: Former Vice President Kamala Harris; former President Joe Biden Musical Selection: Bebe Winans, "Stand" Family Expressions: Dr.
+ Maxine Waters (CA-35); Pastor Jamal Bryant, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church (Stonecrest, Ga.) Musical Selection: Marvin Sapp, "Never Would Have Made It" Expressions: Former Vice President Kamala Harris; former President Joe Biden Musical Selection: Bebe Winans, "Stand" Family Expressions: Jacqueline Jackson; Ashley Jackson Musical selection: Santita Jackson, "To God Be The Glory" Family Expression: Rep.
− Jacqueline Jackson; Ashley Jackson Musical selection: Santita Jackson, "To God Be The Glory" Family Expression: Rep.
Jonathan L.
− Jackson (IL-01) Musical Selection: Marvin Winans, "Let the Church Say Amen" Benediction: Dr.
+ Jackson (IL-01) Musical Selection: Marvin Winans, "Let the Church Say Amen" Benediction: Charles Jenkins Recessional Jackson died on Feb.
− Charles Jenkins Recessional Jackson died on Feb.
17 at age 84. His death has brought an outpouring of tributes to the civil rights leader and politician who devoted his life to pushing for equality and change. His early efforts to fight segregation included insisting on access to the "white library" in his hometown of Greenville, S.C., in 1960. Dorris Wright, a former classmate of Jackson's who was one of the "Greenville Eight" along with him, told Here & Now that after their action, "the library was shut down, I think, for about a week or ten days. And then when they reopened, they reopened it to everybody." Five years later, Jackson marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and others in Selma, Ala. His advocacy continued in the decades that followed, leading Jackson to run for president in 1984 and 1988.
− Updates: The Fight Against Racial Injustice 'Marchers Are Full Of Hope': Civil Rights Leaders See Progress In Today's Movement The Chicago ceremonies bookend a week that began with Jackson's body lying in state at the South Carolina Capitol on Monday.
+ NPR's Book of the Day Abby Phillip's 'A Dream Deferred' chronicles Jesse Jackson's rise to political esteem The Chicago ceremonies bookend a week that began with Jackson's body lying in state at the South Carolina Capitol on Monday.
There, he was honored in events that drew luminaries such as Rep. Jim Clyburn, former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young, and University of South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley. Last week, Jackson's body lay in repose at the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based civil rights organization he founded. His body will return to the group's headquarters on Saturday, for a celebration that will be private, but streamed online.
− NPR's Book of the Day Abby Phillip's 'A Dream Deferred' chronicles Jesse Jackson's rise to political esteem Jackson will be laid to rest in Chicago's venerable Oak Woods Cemetery.
+ Jackson will be laid to rest in Chicago's venerable Oak Woods Cemetery.
There, as WBEZ reports, Jackson will join civil rights icons such as journalist Ida B. Wells-Barnett, who died in 1931, and Olympian Jesse Owens, who died in 1980. Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor