Jesse Jackson dead: Civil rights icon dies aged 84
A cause of death was not immediately given but Jackson’s family said he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the legendary civil rights activist and two-time presidential candidate, passed away on Tuesday, aged 84, his family has said in a statement.
A cause of death was not immediately given, but Jackson’s family said he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
"Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” his 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, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”
In November, Jackson was hospitalized for treatment to regulate his blood pressure, having been under observation for progressive supranuclear palsy.
PSP is “a rare neurological disorder that affects body movements, walking and balance, and eye movements,” according to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Speculation about his health was quashed at the time by his family: "Contrary to specific reports, he is not on life support."
The Baptist minister was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017.
This past October, Jackson’s struggles with his health prevented him from attending his 84th birthday celebrations in Chicago, which, CBS reported, was nevertheless attended by city mayor Brandon Johnson, former congressman Bobby Rush, and Jackson’s sons — current Illinois Democratic Rep. Jonathan Jackson and former representative Jesse Jackson Jr — among many others.
In the statement announcing his passing, Jackson’s family expressed their “profound sadness” at his passing and paid tribute to "his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights, which helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity.
“A tireless change agent, he elevated the voices of the voiceless from his presidential campaigns in the 1980s to mobilising millions to register to vote - leaving an indelible mark on history.”
Growing up in poverty in Jim Crow-era South Carolina, facing societal judgment for being born out of wedlock and personal challenges with his biological father, Jackson learned early on to channel his fears into excellence.
While attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Jackson became active in the civil rights movement, gaining the attention of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and was ordained a minister in 1968. Through his charismatic speeches, Jackson energized thousands of people to boycott businesses that refused to hire qualified Black Americans.
Jackson started a nonprofit, Operation People United to Save Humanity, or PUSH, in 1971, which later merged with his political movement, the National Rainbow Coalition, to form Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 1996.
The reverend launched a long-shot bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and ran for president again in 1988, with his historic campaigns marking the first time a Black candidate had won the nationwide Democratic youth vote.
Tributes quickly started flowing following news of Jackson’s death, with social media users pointing out that the civil rights icon’s death came during Black History Month.
Amongst those paying tribute to Jackson was President Donald Trump, who described the late civil rights campaigner as a “force of nature” on Truth Social.
During his tribute, though, Trump took the opportunity to complain about being “called a Racist by the Scoundrels and Lunatics on the Radical Left” and took a swipe at former President Obama.
“He had much to do with the Election, without acknowledgment or credit, of Barack Hussein Obama, a man who Jesse could not stand,” Trump said, before offering his condolences.
Trump’s rival in the 2024 election, former Vice President Kamala Harris, revealed in her own tribute that she once had a “Jesse Jackson for President” bumper sticker on her car.
She wrote on X that she often received a “honk of support” from other motorists.
Al Sharpton, civil rights crusader and a friend of Jackson’s, was another to pay his respects on X.
He shared his belief that his friend had “changed this nation and the world.”
“He shaped public policy and changed laws,” Sharpton wrote. “He kept the dream alive and taught young children from broken homes, like me, that we don’t have broken spirits.”
Former President Joe Biden also shared a tribute to Jackson, writing that the campaigner “believed in his bones the promise of America.”
“While we’ve never fully lived up to that promise, he dedicated his life to ensuring we never fully walked away from it either,” Biden wrote.
He was joined by fellow former President George W Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush, who wrote on Facebook that Jackson’s “tireless advocacy is a legacy that will long endure.”
Some social media users drew attention to Jackson’s ability to build bridges across political divides, sharing pictures showing the him in friendly moments with both President Trump and former President Barack Obama.
Jackson himself appeared to have stopped using social media in 2024, with the last post from his verified X (formerly Twitter) account in August that year a repost of a call to end the “horrific war in Gaza.”
Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, whom he married in 1962; their children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, and Jacqueline; his daughter, Ashley Jackson, and various grandchildren.
Public observances will be held in Chicago, the family said, with final arrangements to be announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
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