Reverend Jesse Jackson was a prominent civil right's activist who worked closely with other freedom fighting figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jackson died at the age of 84 in Chicago Tuesday. Local leaders are taking a look back at all Jackson has meant to them growing up and even now.

"There was a strong cooperative effort on both of their parts to be apart of the movement Dr. King you know, leading the movement and Jesse was an integral part of that," Rev. Ken Simon, New Bethel Baptist Church said.

"I remember his mantra which was keep hope alive but i think the mantra, even though it was then is more of a movement for now," Mike McNair, publisher emeritus at the Buckeye Review said.

Leaders say Jackson was a symbol of inclusion not just for Black people but for everyone.

"Having taken on the mantle from Dr. King and he was about twelve years younger than Dr. King so throughout the 80s and 90s that was the figure, the person that we heard about the most on the front line of civil rights and equality in the nation and eventually internationally," Rev Todd Johnson, lead pastor at Second Baptist Church said.

"The Rainbow Coalition was a big deal and it was not unlike the beloved community that Dr. King talked about, really it's for everybody and we kind of typed civil rights as for Black people. Wasn't it for everyone," McNair said.

Johnson said Jackson's death should remind us of the ongoing fight for the dignity and welfare of all mankind.