Jonathan Peter Jackson (June 23, 1953 – August 7, 1970)[1] was an American militant activist who died of gunshot wounds sustained during an armed invasion of the Marin County Civic Center. The action was initiated to demand the freedom of the jailed Soledad Brothers, including Jackson's brother George.
At age 17, Jackson overpowered a Marin County courtroom at gunpoint, taking Superior Court Judge Harold Haley, prosecutor Gary W. Thomas, and three jurors hostage. In the ensuing shootout, Jackson and Judge Haley were killed, along with two inmates already in the courtroom, who had readily joined the attack; prosecutor Thomas was paralyzed and one juror was seriously injured.[2] The guns that Jackson used were registered to political activist Angela Davis, who previously formed a committee supporting the Soledad Brothers. Davis stood trial for alleged involvement in the kidnapping and was acquitted of all charges in June 1972.
Jackson was the youngest of five children born to Lester Jackson and Georgia Bee Jackson. Raised in Pasadena, California, he attended St. Andrew's School from 1965 to 1967 for grades seven and eight, La Salle High School for ninth grade (1967–68), and then Blair High School for his junior school level study . [3] Jackson worked closely with Angela Davis in the Soledad Brothers Committee and Davis eventually considered Jackson to be like a blood brother.[4]
George Jackson includes passages in his 1971 book, Blood in My Eye, which he attributes to his brother Jonathan. These passages figure prominently in the development of the elder Jackson's theory of revolutionary praxis.[5]
Jackson had worked extensively in attempting to free the Soledad Brothers. Angela Davis had said about Jackson's activities in her autobiography, "Jonathan only wanted to talk about George. All of his interests, all of his activities were bound up in some way with his brother in Soledad."[6] George Jackson had recommended to Davis that his brother do work for the Soledad Brothers Defense Committee. Jackson was considered a talented writer and the committee was in need of good writers. Jackson labored diligently in writing and producing material for the release of the Soledad Brothers.[4]
On August 7, 1970, Jackson brought a satchel containing three firearms, registered to Davis,[7] into the Marin County Hall of Justice, where Judge Haley was presiding over the trial of San Quentin inmate James McClain.[8]
Once inside Judge Haley's courtroom, Jackson drew a revolver and, aided by McClain and Black Panther inmates Ruchell Cinque Magee and William Arthur Christmas, took Judge Haley as well as Deputy District Attorney Gary Thomas and three female jurors hostage.[9]
They encouraged responding journalists to document their actions as they loaded the hostages into a rented van. Responding San Quentin prison guards fired on the van that Jackson was driving as they attempted to escape.[10][8] During the shootout, Jonathan Jackson, Christmas, McClain, and Judge Haley were killed, while Magee and Deputy District Attorney Thomas were seriously injured.[11]
Jackson's son, Jonathan Jackson Jr., was born eight and a half months after his father's death.[12] A monument on the premises to Judge Haley was the target of a follow-up attack perpetrated by the Weather Underground terrorist network in October of the same year.[13]
Nas pays tribute to George and Jonathan Jackson in his song "Testify" from his untitled album.
Hasan Salaam references to George and Jonathan Jackson in the song "Get High Riddum" on the album Tales of the Lost Tribe: Hidden Jewels (i.e. "I fight for my freedom like George and John Jackson").
Dead Prez mentions Jonathan Jackson in the songs "I have a dream too" and "Over" from their mixtape "Revolutionary But Gangsta Grillz "
Chris Iijima of the band, Yellow Pearl, wrote a song "Jonathan Jackson" on the album A Grain of Sand: Music for the Struggle by Asians in America.
Hussein Fatal mentions George and Jonathan Jackson in the song "Dumpin'" on the posthumous 2Pac album Pac's Life.
2Pac's song Soulja's Story on his 2Pacalypse Now album is a reference to George and Jonathan Jackson.
