Rev. Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Icon, Dies at 84
Renowned American civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson has passed away at the age of 84. His family announced on Tuesday that he “died peacefully… surrounded by his family.”
Jackson was a pivotal figure in the American civil rights movement, working closely with Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1960s fight for racial equality. He later entered politics, running for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.
In 2017, Jackson revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, describing it as a “physical challenge,” but continued his advocacy work. Last November, he was hospitalized for observation after being diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a degenerative neurological condition.
The Jackson family paid tribute to his legacy: “Our father was a servant leader – not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world… His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions.”
Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, their children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline, daughter Ashley Jackson, and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen Burns Jackson and Noah Louis Robinson, and stepfather Charles Henry Jackson.
Public observances and celebrations of life will be held in Chicago, organized by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which Jackson founded. Further details are expected to be announced.