Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Today, I mourn a man who changed the course of my life. When I was arrested in The Gambia in 2011 for standing up against dictatorship, the situation was dangerous and uncertain. My family was terrified. The future was unclear. Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. did not issue public statements. He did not seek attention. He went to work.

He reached out where it mattered. He made the right contacts. He used his relationships and influence in ways that were deliberate and effective. What he did was not visible to the public, but it was real. And it made a difference.

I believe I am alive today in part because he chose to get involved.

Over the years, we remained in touch. He followed my journey. He encouraged my continued commitment to democracy and human rights.

One of the most meaningful moments of my life was celebrating my 60th birthday at the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago. To stand there – free, alive, surrounded by people who had stood with me – was something I will always treasure.

Rev. Jackson understood struggle. He knew that the fight for dignity does not stop at borders. Whether in America, Africa, or anywhere else, he recognized injustice and responded to it. Not for praise. Not for publicity. But because it was right.

This is a major loss for my family. We carry personal gratitude that words cannot fully express. It is also a loss for all who value human rights and human dignity around the world.

He stepped into my story at a moment when it mattered most. I will never forget that.

May he rest in peace. And may we honor his life by continuing the work he believed in.