Manny Ita –
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the U.S. civil rights movement and longtime political activist, has died at the age of 84 following a prolonged illness, his family announced on Tuesday.
In a statement, his family said he “died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family,” describing him as a leader whose “unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity.” They added that he was “a tireless change agent” who elevated marginalized voices and left “an indelible mark on history.”
Jackson had been hospitalized in November after being diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological disorder similar to Parkinson’s disease that affects movement, balance and eye function. His organization disclosed that he had been managing the condition for more than a decade, with a formal diagnosis confirmed in April 2025.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, Jackson rose to national prominence in the 1960s as a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. and became a leading voice in campaigns for racial equality, economic justice and voting rights. In 1971 he founded Operation PUSH, which later evolved into the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization he led for decades.
He remained a central figure in Democratic Party politics for more than 60 years and mounted historic bids for the party’s presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988. Reflecting on those campaigns in a 2011 interview, Jackson said, “I was able to run for the presidency twice and redefine what was possible; it raised the lid for women and other people of color. Part of my job was to sow seeds of the possibilities.”
Jackson’s later years were marked by recurring health challenges. He underwent gall bladder surgery in 2021, was hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 the same year and suffered a fall at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He had earlier disclosed a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2017, saying recognition of the disease’s impact had been “painful.”
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum following news of his death. Civil rights leader Al Sharpton, who described Jackson as a mentor, said he was “not simply a civil rights leader” but “a movement unto himself,” adding that he “carried history in his footsteps and hope in his voice.”
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock said Jackson “fought for freedom, racial justice, equality, and for the human dignity of the marginalized and the poor,” recalling that watching him run for president inspired him as a child to believe “I am somebody.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris described him as “one of America’s greatest patriots,” saying he “gave a voice to people who were removed from power and politics” and widened opportunities for future generations.
Former President Joe Biden said Jackson would be remembered as “a man of God and of the people,” praising his lifelong effort to push the United States toward its founding ideals of equality. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called him “a legendary voice for the voiceless,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described him as “a fearless warrior for justice.”
Republican leaders also paid tribute. Senator Lindsey Graham called Jackson a “larger-than-life figure,” and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced plans to lower state flags in his honor.
Former President Donald Trump said he had known Jackson long before entering politics, describing him as “a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and ‘street smarts,’” and “a force of nature like few others before him.”
Jackson is survived by his wife of nearly six decades, Jacqueline Jackson, and six children, including Congressman Jonathan Jackson. His organization said arrangements are underway for memorial services, including public events in Chicago, where he built much of his political and activist legacy.
