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Iconic civil rights leader Rev. Jesse L. Jackson has died. He was 84.
Jackson died Tuesday morning (February 17), surrounded by his family, according to a statement from his nonprofit social justice organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
“His unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity," the statement read. "A tireless change agent, he elevated the voices of the voiceless – from his Presidential campaigns in the 1980s to mobilizing millions to register to vote – leaving an indelible mark on history."
Jackson was hospitalized on November 12. According to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization founded by Jackson to promote social justice and economic equality, the longtime civil rights activist was under medical observation due to his progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
Jackson had been living with the neurodegenerative disorder for about a decade. The two-time presidential candidate was originally diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but doctors confirmed his PSP diagnosis in April, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition said. Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare neurological condition that affects movement, balance, and eye coordination, caused by damage to specific nerve cells in the brain, according to the National Institutes of Health.
As an ordained minister, Jackson worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He ran for president in 1984, making history as the second Black American to seek a major-party nomination following Rep. Shirley Chisholm's bid for the White House in 1972.
As a presidential candidate, Jackson won five primaries and caucuses in 1984. The feat made him the first Black politician to win any major-party state primary contest.
Jackson's activism continued as he founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. He stepped down as president of the Chicago-based organization in 2023.
At one of his last major public appearances, Jackson received a standing ovation as he took the stage during the first night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention earlier this month. Jackson, reportedly accompanied by a nurse and two aids, waved to the crowd from a wheelchair but didn't make a speech.
Democrats credited Jackson for blazing a trail that helped Barack Obama become the first Black president in 2008 and led to Vice President Kamala Harris making history as the first woman of color nominated for the presidency.
Rest in peace, Rev. Jesse Jackson.
See tributes below.
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