Civil Rights Leader Receives Care in​ Chicago

Trailblazing civil rights leader‌ the Rev. Jesse Jackson was hospitalized in Chicago on⁢ Wednesday ⁣due to symptoms related to‍ progressive supranuclear ⁣palsy (PSP), a rare neurodegenerative disorder. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition,‍ the social⁢ justice institution ‌founded by ​Jackson, confirmed his hospitalization in ​a statement.

Jackson, 84, ⁤has been living with PSP for​ over⁢ a⁤ decade. He initially ‍received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, but the PSP⁤ diagnosis was confirmed ⁣in April‍ of this year.

Understanding‌ Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

PSP is categorized ‌as an ‍atypical parkinsonian disorder, sharing some motor symptoms with⁤ Parkinson’s disease but generally ⁢progressing more rapidly ‌and​ carrying ⁤a more severe prognosis. ‌The disease results‌ from a buildup of tau protein in brain areas ‍controlling movement, leading to symptoms like balance issues, difficulty aiming the⁣ eyes, slurred ​speech, loss ‍of walking ability,​ and swallowing challenges.

A History of Advocacy and⁤ Political Impact

Born in 1941 ⁤in segregated Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson ⁢rose ⁣to⁣ prominence in the 1960s working alongside the Rev.Martin Luther King ⁣Jr. He became a leading voice‌ in the Civil Rights Movement.

Jackson founded Operation PUSH to advocate for increased employment opportunities for Black americans and later ‌established the Rainbow Coalition in the 1980s. The Rainbow ​Coalition aimed to unite diverse groups-including marginalized communities and⁤ working-class voters-around shared goals of social,⁤ economic, ⁤and political justice, and⁢ also greater political representation.

he made history as the first black presidential candidate to garner critically important national support,‍ receiving ⁤3.5 million votes in 1984 and 7⁢ million in ⁤1988.

Previous Hospitalizations

Jackson was previously hospitalized in 2021, along with his wife, for COVID-19, ‌as reported by the Los Angeles Times.