In a Saturday evening statement, the civil rights leader urged the nation to join "oppressed people" across the globe in celebration of "the life of a liberator who fought and won against the rich and oligarch rule of [former Cuban President Fulgencio] Batista."
Cuban television announced the death of the 90-year old dictator late Friday evening. Response to the news was dramatic and diverse, triggering tears in Ottawa, Canada as well as dancing in the streets of Miami, Florida.
The response from Washington was mixed. A hesitant President Obama offered his condolences to Castro's family while President-elect Trump celebrated the news, describing the deceased as a "brutal dictator."
Jackson was unwavering in his support for the controversial Cuban leader, who is accused of murdering tens of thousands of political dissidents. After trips to Havana and Harlem, the two could even be described as friends.