Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ordered all United States and Commonwealth flags to fly at half-staff on Saturday, March 7, in honor of Reverend Jesse Jackson, who died on February 17th at age 84. Jackson, a pivotal civil rights leader and Baptist minister, championed the movement for decades. His final visit to Pennsylvania occurred in October 2024, hosted by the state's Legislative Black Caucus. Jackson's family revealed he succumbed to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a neurodegenerative disorder.

Shapiro's tribute coincides with Jackson's final memorial services. In a poignant X post, Shapiro described Jackson as a 'change maker' and 'boundary breaker,' recalling their shared pulpit moment in 2016. 'To be around him felt like you were experiencing history,' Shapiro wrote, expressing prayers for Jackson's wife and family. Jackson's legacy includes advocating fiercely for labor and civil rights across Pennsylvania's cities.

This order underscores Pennsylvania's official mourning for a figure whose work profoundly shaped American civil rights, marking a significant moment of state recognition for his enduring impact.