The Reverend Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the American Civil Rights Movement and a two-time presidential candidate, has died at the age of 84. His family announced his passing on Tuesday, , stating he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones.
Jackson’s death marks the loss of a pivotal leader who marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr., challenged corporate America and advocated for voting rights for decades. He was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and consistently championed the cause of the marginalized and disenfranchised.
“With profound sadness we announce the passing of Civil Rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.,” the family said in a statement released via Instagram. “He died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family.”
The statement continued, describing Jackson as “a servant leader – not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.” The family emphasized his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and love, and urged others to continue his fight for those values.
In recent years, Jackson had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disease that causes a decline similar to Parkinson’s disease but progresses more rapidly. He revealed a diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2017 and had been receiving treatment at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago for at least two years prior to publicly disclosing his condition.
Despite his declining health, Jackson remained actively engaged in the pursuit of civil rights. He was arrested twice in 2021 while protesting the Senate filibuster rule, demonstrating his continued commitment to fighting for voting rights. He and his wife, Jacqueline, were also hospitalized with COVID-19 complications in 2021.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, to a teenage mother, Jackson’s life story mirrored the struggles of many African Americans during the Jim Crow era. He witnessed firsthand the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. In 1968, an event that profoundly shaped his commitment to the Civil Rights Movement. He had been with King in Memphis at the time of the assassination.
Jackson founded Operation PUSH in 1971, three years after King’s death, and later merged it with The National Rainbow Coalition in 1996 to create the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The organization, described as multiracial, multithemed, progressive, and international, has consistently worked to protect, defend, and expand civil rights and advocate for social change.
His two presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 were groundbreaking, making him the first African American to mount a serious challenge for the presidency. While he did not win the nomination, his campaigns energized a new generation of voters and brought issues of racial and economic justice to the forefront of national political discourse. His 1988 campaign, in particular, is remembered for its populist message and broad appeal.
Rev. Al Sharpton, a fellow civil rights leader, paid tribute to Jackson, stating that the nation had lost one of its greatest moral voices. “Reverend Jackson stood wherever dignity was under attack, from apartheid abroad to injustice at home,” Sharpton said. “His voice echoed in boardrooms and in jail cells.”
Jackson’s influence extended beyond domestic politics. He was known for his diplomatic efforts, including negotiating the release of American hostages held in Cuba in 1984. He also consistently challenged corporations to address issues of diversity and inclusion, pushing for greater opportunities for people of color.
Rashad Robinson, former president of the online justice organization Color of Change, highlighted Jackson’s longevity and dedication. “His longevity is part of the story,” Robinson said. “This is someone who had so many chances to do something else. And this is what he chose to do with his life.”
Jackson’s death comes at a time of rising concerns about white nationalism and voting rights access in the United States, following the passing of other civil rights icons such as former Representative John Lewis in 2020. His legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire activists and advocates fighting for social justice in the years to come.
The Jackson family has indicated that public observances will be held in Chicago, with further details regarding celebration of life events to be announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
