Johnson Denies Request For Jesse Jackson To Lie In Honor
Speaker Mike Johnson denied the family's request for Rev. Jesse Jackson to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, citing precedent that the space is typically reserved for presidents and select officials.
Overview
House Speaker Mike Johnson denied the family's request for Rev. Jesse Jackson to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, Johnson's office said.
Johnson's office said it cited precedent that the Rotunda is typically reserved for former presidents, military leaders and select officials, and that there is no specific written rule, according to the Architect of the Capitol.
Democrats and civil rights figures criticized the decision, and the Jackson family and congressional allies are discussing alternative venues in Washington, D.C., sources said.
Jackson died at age 84, and the Rotunda has been used rarely for private citizens, including Rosa Parks in 2005 and Billy Graham in 2018, the Architect of the Capitol said.
The Jackson family scheduled memorial services in Chicago on March 6 and March 7 and is exploring alternative Washington venues including Howard University, the Washington National Cathedral and the National Museum of African American History, sources said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this as largely neutral: they emphasize factual precedent, relay family statements and alternative venue options, and contextualize Jackson’s legacy with obituary details. Language is respectful but not politicized; coverage cites specific comparisons (Rosa Parks, John Lewis, Dick Cheney) and procedural constraints rather than editorial judgment.
Sources (7)
FAQ
The Rotunda has been used rarely for private citizens, including Rosa Parks in 2005 and Billy Graham in 2018.
Johnson's office cited precedent that the Rotunda is typically reserved for former presidents, military leaders, and select officials, with no specific written rule.
Civil rights icons Rosa Parks (2005, lie in honor), John Lewis (2020, lie in state as a lawmaker), and Elijah Cummings (lie in Statuary Hall).[1]
The Jackson family and allies are exploring Howard University, the Washington National Cathedral, and the National Museum of African American History.[1]
Memorial services are scheduled at Rainbow PUSH in Chicago on March 6 and March 7.
History
3 sources