Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Icon, Dies at 84
The Reverend Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the American civil rights movement, has died, his family announced Tuesday. He was 84 years old.
Jackson passed away peacefully in Chicago, Illinois, surrounded by his family, according to a statement released by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. He had been hospitalized since November following a lengthy battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, a condition similar to Parkinson’s disease. He was previously hospitalized with COVID-19 complications in 2021 alongside his wife, Jacqueline.
For decades, Jackson stood alongside Martin Luther King Jr., advocating for voting rights and challenging corporations to embrace diversity. He became one of the most recognizable and influential voices in the fight for racial and economic justice.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Civil Rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.,” the Rainbow PUSH Coalition said in a statement posted on Instagram.
Born Jesse Louis Burns on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson’s activism began in the 1960s. He later founded organizations that merged to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. He served as a shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997.
Jackson was a two-time presidential candidate, seeking the Democratic nomination in 1984 and 1988. While he did not win the presidency, his campaigns brought issues of racial and economic inequality to the forefront of national political discourse.
Beyond domestic issues, Jackson engaged in international diplomacy, negotiating the release of hostages in several countries. He was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Even as his health declined, Jackson remained committed to activism. He was arrested twice in 2021 while protesting the Senate filibuster rule, demonstrating his continued dedication to fighting for voting rights.
“His longevity is part of the story,” said Rashad Robinson, formerly of the online justice organization Color of Change. “This is someone who had so many chances to do something else. And this is what chose to do with his life.”
Jackson’s death comes at a time of rising concerns about white nationalism and voting rights, following the passing of other civil rights icons like former Representative John Lewis in 2020. His legacy continues to inspire a new generation of activists fighting for a more just and equitable society.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and their six children, including former U.S. Representatives Jesse Jackson Jr. And Jonathan Jackson.
