Biography
Congressman Rush was born on November 23, 1946 in Albany, Georgia. His family later moved to Chicago and lived on the near north and west sides. Rush attended Marshall High School and at the age of 17, enlisted in the United States Army. He served in the military from 1963 until 1968, receiving an honorable discharge.
Following his military service, Rush attended Roosevelt University, where he received a bachelor's degree in general studies in 1973, with honors. In 1994, he received a master's degree in political science from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Congressman Rush received his second master's degree, in 1998, in theological studies from McCormick Seminary, and, soon thereafter, became an ordained Baptist minister.
During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's, Congressman Rush worked to secure basic civil and human rights for African-Americans, women and other minorities. He was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) from 1966 to 1968. Congressman Rush was a co-founder of the Illinois Black Panther Party in 1968.
While a Black Panther, he operated the Panther Party's Free Breakfast for Children program. He also coordinated the Free Medical Clinic, which developed the nation's first mass sickle cell anemia testing program. This visionary Panther initiative forced America's health care providers to recognize the impact of sickle cell anemia on the Black community and to develop national research into its causes, effects and solutions, a practice which endures to this day.
Prior to his election to Congress, Congressman Rush was an Alderman in the Chicago City Council. He represented the 2nd Ward on Chicago's South Side for 8 years. As an Alderman, Rush helped pass significant environmental protection, gun control and neighborhood development legislation.
Congressman Rush received an honorary doctorate degree from the Virginia University of Lynchburg. He is the pastor of Beloved Community Christian Church and has been married to his wife, Carolyn, for 25 years.
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