The United States mourns the loss of Reverend Jesse Jackson, the monumental civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate, who passed away peacefully at age 84 on Tuesday morning surrounded by family. His death marks the conclusion of a lifelong crusade for racial equality and social justice that reshaped American society.
Jackson’s family confirmed his passing through an official statement, celebrating his “unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights” that catalyzed global movements for dignity and freedom. The reverend had battled Parkinson’s disease since his 2017 diagnosis, a condition he described as a “physical challenge” that never diminished his activist spirit.
Jackson’s political journey began in the turbulent 1960s when he emerged as a key figure in Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was present at the Lorraine Motel when Dr. King was assassinated in 1968—a traumatic moment that fueled his determination to continue the fight for civil rights.
His legacy includes founding two groundbreaking organizations: Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) in 1971 and the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984, which later merged to form the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. These platforms amplified voices of the disenfranchised and mobilized voter registration drives that transformed American electoral politics.
Jackson’s historic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 broke barriers as the first serious African American bids for the White House, paving the way for future generations of Black political leadership. Beyond domestic issues, he advocated internationally for human rights and diplomatic solutions to global conflicts.
The Jackson family has announced public observances will be held in Chicago, with final arrangements for memorial services to be coordinated by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. He is survived by his wife Jacqueline, five children, and multiple grandchildren—a family that shared their patriarch with the world in pursuit of a more just society.