At the funeral for the late civil rights icon, former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden on Friday called on Americans to maintain hope and to carry on Jackson’s legacy of advocating for change.

Although neither mentioned President Donald Trump by name, Obama referenced “those in high office” and the condition of American leadership, describing the present as “a time when it can be hard to hope.”

“Every day begins with a fresh attack on our democratic foundations, another blow to the rule of law, a violation of basic decency. Each morning, we confront developments we never imagined possible. Daily, those in positions of authority instruct us to distrust one another, to fight amongst ourselves, and to believe that some citizens matter more than others, or not at all,” Obama stated.

“In every direction, we witness greed and prejudice being glorified, while intimidation and ridicule pose as toughness,” he went on. “We see knowledge and skill disparaged, while ignorance, deceit, brutality, and corruption harvest immense benefits. We witness this daily, and in such times, hope is difficult to sustain.”

However, Obama pointed to Jackson as a model for choosing not to “make deals with the powerful and seize what you can” or to “duck your head and hope the trouble passes,” but instead to “choose a more difficult route.”

“His example urges every one of us to become advocates for change and bearers of hope,” the former President remarked.

Jackson, who passed away last month at 84, was a leading voice in the Civil Rights movement and a student of the late Martin Luther King Jr. He made two bids for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 1980s.

Obama remembered viewing Jackson in the presidential debates during those campaigns. The former two-term president attributed his own eventual election to the White House to Jackson’s pioneering, albeit unsuccessful, attempts.

“It was due to the trail he blazed, because of his bravery and boldness, that twenty years later, a young Black senator from Chicago’s South Side could even be considered a credible contender for the presidential nomination,” said Obama, who served as a U.S. Senator from Illinois from 2005 to 2008. 

Biden spoke after his presidential predecessor, discussing his upbringing in a segregated Delaware and his personal connection to Jackson. Echoing Obama, Biden described Jackson’s legacy as a call to action. 

“Jesse sustained hope for us throughout his life, and we must keep it alive,” Biden declared. “Because when we unite, there is nothing we cannot achieve. Nothing, nothing, nothing. So rise up and complete his work.”

Former President Bill Clinton also honored the civil rights leader, noting that Jackson “helped me become a better president by constantly challenging the status quo.” 

“I urge you to consider how you can contribute more by being a better and more impactful friend,” Clinton said in closing his eulogy.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking afterward, made a brief reference to the nation’s current political climate, starting her remarks by saying she had “foreseen much of what is occurring today,” without citing a specific incident or individual. 

“I don’t like to say ‘I told you so,’ but we anticipated this. What I did not foresee was that we would be without Jesse Jackson here with us now to guide us through it,” she added, before honoring Jackson’s life and achievements.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also present at the funeral, as were California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Both Johnson and Pritzker delivered addresses during the service.