Gregory "Action” Jackson has spent much of his life organizing for change, a journey that eventually took him from grassroots activism to the White House.
During a conversation with guest host Morgyn Wood at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, Jackson reflected on the experiences that shaped his activism and his work to address gun violence across the country.
Speaking to this year's conference theme, "Rooted, Ready, and Rising," Jackson recalled earning the nickname "Action Jackson" after years of organizing, beginning with a college sit-in challenging what he described as a discriminatory restaurant dress code.
His advocacy became deeply personal after he survived a near-fatal shooting in Washington, D.C., in 2013. Jackson went on to advocate for gun violence prevention measures, including the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, before joining the Biden administration as deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Jackson pointed to the administration's 54 executive actions on gun violence prevention and efforts targeting ghost guns and unlawful gun dealers. He also told BIN that homicides declined 39% over three years amid those efforts.
During the conversation, Jackson contrasted that approach with the Trump administration's priorities, criticizing reductions to social safety-net programs while arguing that federal resources should instead be invested in communities and violence prevention.
For Jackson, the work remains rooted in the same approach that earned him his nickname years ago: turning advocacy into action
For more of our interviews from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, check out Our Voices!
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