The Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., a longtime civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and founding figure of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, has died at the age of 84, his family announced Tuesday.
Jackson passed away Tuesday morning at his home, surrounded by family, according to a family statement. He had been a prominent voice in the civil rights movement for more than five decades and was widely recognized for his advocacy on 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. He died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family,” the statement said, per Fox News.
“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions.”
The cause of death was not disclosed; however, Jackson had faced several health issues in recent years. In 2017, he announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He also received treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare degenerative neurological disorder. Despite these health challenges, which affected his voice and mobility, he continued to advocate for civil rights. In 2021, he was arrested twice while protesting the Senate filibuster rule.
Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson grew up in a segregated community. As a teenager, he excelled academically and earned a football scholarship to the University of Illinois. However, he later transferred to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College, where he graduated in 1964.
After graduating, Jackson left his studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary to join the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama. He later became a key figure in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. With King’s support, he led Operation Breadbasket in Chicago, a campaign designed to expand economic opportunities for Black Americans.
Jackson became involved in civil rights activism during his teenage years, and at the age of 18, he was arrested for participating in a sit-in at a segregated public library. The protest marked the beginning of his prominent role in the student-led movement that challenged segregation across the South.
A protégé of King, Jackson was in Memphis when King was assassinated in 1969. Afterward, Jackson became one of the most visible figures in the movement. He founded what became the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization focused on social justice, economic empowerment, and voter engagement on the left.
Jackson also made history as a two-time candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 1980s, campaigning on issues of equality and inclusion. His bids for the White House were seen as significant milestones for African American political representation at the national level.
In 1988, Jesse Jackson received nearly 7 million votes, which accounted for about 29% of the total, and he finished first or second in several Super Tuesday contests. Ultimately, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis secured the Democratic nomination, Fox noted.
Although Jackson never held elected office, he remained an influential political figure. He advocated for expanded voter registration, lobbied for Washington, D.C. statehood, and occasionally served as a diplomatic envoy, including efforts to secure the release of Americans held overseas.
Throughout his life, Jackson worked on voting rights, civil rights legislation, and campaigns to improve economic opportunities for historically marginalized communities. He remained a prominent public figure and activist well into his later years.
Leaders from across the political spectrum and civil rights community have issued tributes following the news of his death, noting his influence on American public life and his role in the struggle for civil rights.
Jackson is survived by his wife and children. Funeral and memorial arrangements have not yet been announced