Reverend Jesse Jackson passed away today at the age of 84, prompting former students from Montgomery Village Junior High (now middle school) to reflect on a visit many still remember more than four decades later.
Jackson visited Montgomery Village Junior High in 1984, speaking to students during an assembly that left a lasting impression on those in attendance. Through the years and in the hours following news of his death, former students shared memories on social media, recalling the packed auditorium, the energy in the room, and phrases from his speech that have stuck with them ever since, including “Up with hope, down with dope.”
Some former students remembered how crowded the school became that day, with students filling hallways and overflow rooms, and others climbing onto tables just to get a better view. Several recalled more personal moments, including Jackson greeting students as he walked through the space, shaking hands and stopping briefly to interact with them…