JESSE JACKSON, VETERAN U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND TWO‑TIME PRESENTIAL CANDIDATE, HAS DIED AT AGE 84

JESSE JACKSON, VETERAN U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND TWO‑TIME PRESENTIAL CANDIDATE, HAS DIED AT AGE 84
Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., the iconic American civil rights leader, Baptist minister and twice Democratic presidential candidate, has died at the age of 84, his family announced. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning in Chicago, surrounded by family, according to statements released by his loved ones. Jackson was born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, and emerged as a powerful voice in the American civil rights movement beginning in the 1960s.
He became a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and marched alongside him for racial equality and justice.
Over more than six decades, Jackson championed voter rights, economic empowerment, and social justice, founding and leading influential organisations that promoted civil rights and political engagement. Jackson founded Operation PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity) in 1971 and later formed the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which became a cornerstone of progressive advocacy in the United States. He twice sought the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 breaking barriers as one of the first Black candidates to seriously contend for the White House and expanding political engagement among Black, working‑class, and progressive voters.
Jackson was also known for his international diplomacy efforts, from negotiating hostage releases abroad to promoting peace and human rights globally. Jackson’s impact extended beyond U.S. borders, and he was respected as a voice for the oppressed and marginalized worldwide. His family and supporters described him as a “servant leader” whose work transformed American political discourse and inspired generations of activists.
Tributes from civil rights figures, political leaders and global observers have been pouring in, honouring his decades of tireless advocacy. In recent years, Jackson had faced significant health challenges. He had been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) a rare neurodegenerative disorder after earlier outpatient care for Parkinson’s disease, and had been under care for the condition. Despite health setbacks, he remained involved in civil rights causes and worked to inspire civic engagement until stepping down from leadership roles. Jackson’s death marks the passing of one of the most influential civil rights figures in modern American history a leader whose work influenced race relations, voting rights, economic justice, and political participation. His campaigns and activism helped shape national debates on equality and inclusion and left an indelible mark on the struggle for civil rights and dignity for all.