Yes. Jesse Jackson was at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was on or immediately beside the balcony when King was shot on April 4, 1968.

What Actually Happened

Most historical accounts and Jackson’s own recollections agree on the core facts:

  • Dr. King was standing on the balcony outside room 306 of the Lorraine Motel.
  • Jesse Jackson and other aides were below and around the balcony, preparing to leave for dinner.
  • Moments after King lightly teased Jackson about his casual clothing, the fatal shot was fired.
  • Jackson rushed toward King and was close enough to be stained with King’s blood.

So while exact positioning (a few feet away, slightly below, or directly at his side) varies in retellings, Jackson was physically right there with King at the moment of the assassination and is regarded as an eyewitness.

Why People Ask This

Over the years, slight differences in Jackson’s descriptions (how close he was, exactly where he was standing) have fueled forum debates and “was he really right next to him?” discussions. But mainstream historians, major news outlets, and other witnesses consistently place Jackson on or by the balcony at the time of the shooting, directly involved in the chaotic aftermath.

In simple terms: Jesse Jackson was with MLK at the Lorraine Motel and witnessed the assassination up close.

Bottom line / TL;DR: Yes—Jesse Jackson was present with Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel and is counted as an eyewitness to King’s assassination.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.