Donald Trump Honors Rev. Jesse Jackson as ‘True Hero’ at White House Black History Month Event

Washington DC [US] : During a Black History Month reception at the White House on Wednesday , US President Donald Trump paid tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson, a US civil rights activist.

Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, considered Martin Luther King Jr’s heir, died on February 17 at the age of 84.

Donald Trump speech

Trump acknowledged African Americans’ contributions to the US independence effort during his speech at the reception.

The US President stated, “I’d want to begin by expressing our sadness at the death of a person I knew well. He was a good person. He was a true hero, and I just wanted to pay my respects to Reverend Jesse Jackson.

He added, “During the Revolutionary War, nearly 10,000 African Americans enlisted in the patriot forces, helping to secure America’s independence — and in every era since, Black Americans have continued to rise in service, defending the nation and its flag with unmatched commitment.”

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Jackson, a close ally of Martin Luther King Jr., eventually founded the Rainbow Coalition, which included Blacks, Whites, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and LGBTQ individuals, according to CNN. Following Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, Jackson founded the Chicago-based civil rights organization Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), with the goal of empowering African Americans.

CNN reports that President Donald Trump also presented former Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the event.Ben will receive the Medal of Freedom from the President. Apart from the Congressional Medal of Honour, that is the greatest honour you can receive. However, it’s better because, as you may know, many people receive the Congressional Medal of Honour without them present,” Trump stated.

The highest military decoration in the United States for heroism is the Medal of Honour.