BREAKING: US Civil Rights Leader, Presidential Trailblazer Jesse Jackson Dead at 84

Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the US civil rights movement and a trailblazer in American politics, has died at the age of 84. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family, according to a statement from the Jackson household.

“Our father was a servant leader – not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the statement 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 honour his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”

Jackson’s life was defined by his fight for civil rights and social justice. Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, he became involved in politics at an early age. He rose to national prominence in the 1960s as a leader in Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was present with King when he was assassinated in Memphis in 1968.

A protégé of King, Jackson devoted his life to politically organising and empowering African-Americans. He founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) in 1971 and later established the National Rainbow Coalition, which eventually merged into the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a vehicle for advocacy and social justice.

Jackson made history by becoming the first African-American to successfully transition from activism to major-party presidential politics. He ran for the Democratic Party’s nomination in 1984 and 1988, capturing the imagination of millions with a message centered on social justice, equality, and economic opportunity for poor and working-class Americans. His campaign slogan “Keep Hope Alive” would later inspire Barack Obama’s 2008 “Hope and Change” campaign.

A gifted orator, Jackson gave voice to those who felt marginalised in the United States. He advocated tirelessly for civil rights domestically and internationally, campaigning against apartheid in South Africa, speaking out for the oppressed in Latin America, and calling for human rights worldwide. His activism extended into later life, as he continued to fight for the disenfranchised and politically marginalised.

Jackson’s later years were marred by personal and family controversies, including allegations of marital infidelity and financial impropriety involving his son, Jesse Jackson Jr., a former congressman from Illinois. Despite these challenges, Jackson remained a revered figure within the Democratic Party, serving as an elder statesman and a moral compass for political activism.

In 2017, Jackson announced he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which he described as a “physical challenge.” He continued to advocate for civil rights despite the progressive effects of the disease. Later, his diagnosis was updated to progressive supranuclear palsy, a degenerative brain disorder. He was hospitalised for observation in November 2025, and doctors confirmed the degenerative condition at that time.

American-British playwright Bonnie Greer described Jackson as “a great man” and “a bridge between generations of the civil rights movement.” She added, “He was able to see the big picture, he was able to see the little picture, and he could put them together to make the idea of America and the world into what he saw — a world where people can not only be equal, they can get better at being equal.”

Throughout his life, Jackson fought for voting rights, education, healthcare, and economic justice. He mobilised millions to register to vote, ran landmark presidential campaigns, and remained a symbol of hope and perseverance.

Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and their children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline, and Ashley, as well as several grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Burns Jackson; father, Noah Louis Robinson; and stepfather, Charles Henry Jackson.

Public observances are expected to be held in Chicago, with final arrangements for his celebration of life to be announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Jesse Jackson’s legacy is one of relentless pursuit of justice, equality, and human dignity. From marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr. to challenging the political establishment as a presidential candidate, he transformed American society and inspired generations of activists. In his passing, the world loses not only a civil rights leader but a tireless advocate for a fairer, more just society.