CHICAGO– A Dallas pastor who took over the leadership of the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s longtime civil rights organization resigned Tuesday after less than three months in office.
The Rev. Frederick Haynes III told The Associated Press that he had submitted a letter resigning as head of the Chicago-based Rainbow PUSH Coalition, effective immediately.
“After a time of prayer and consideration, I felt it was best to resign as president and CEO of Rainbow PUSH,” he said by phone from Texas. “I am forever honored that Rev. Jackson deemed me worthy to succeed him as president of the organization he founded.”
Haynes, 63, said he felt it was “necessary” to move forward in light of “challenges that persist,” but declined to elaborate.
Neither Jackson nor other representatives of the organization had immediate comment.
Jackson announced in July that he would step down from the organization he founded more than 50 years ago and nominated Haynes as his successor.
Haynes, the pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, was formally installed as president and CEO during a February ceremony in that city. He planned to lead Rainbow PUSH, which advocates for social justice and political activism, from Texas.
Haynes said that although the formal acquisition took place in February, he launched over the summer and hoped to work with Rainbow PUSH and Jackson in the future.
“He remains one of my heroes. He remains one of the great leaders of all time,” said Haynes.
Jackson – who played a central role in the modern civil rights movement – has battled numerous health issues in recent years and has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Yet the 82-year-old two-time presidential candidate has not shied away from public attention.
Jackson appeared at a packed Chicago City Council meeting in January to support a controversial resolution for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.