Thousands of mourners paid their respects Friday, March 6 to Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights icon, who died last month at age 84.
One of those who attended the public homegoing celebration at Chicago’s House of Hope on Friday was Chicago native and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who also spoke during the ceremony.
During his speech, Thomas acknowledged the "five presidents" who were in attendance.
"I would also like to honor the five presidents who are sitting here today: President (Kamala) Harris, President (Hillary) Clinton, President Bill Clinton, First Lady Jill Biden, President Biden, and Chicago's own southside President Barack Obama," Thomas said, which drew huge applause.
Thomas also praised Jackson for being an inspiration throughout his life, while adding that fellow civil rights leaders Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King, Jr., were his heroes.