The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the veteran civil rights activist, Baptist minister and two-time U.S. presidential candidate, has died at the age of 84, his family announced on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Jackson family described him as “a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.”
They added that his unwavering belief in justice, equality and love uplifted millions and urged supporters to honor his memory by continuing the struggle for social justice.
No immediate cause of death was disclosed, but the family said he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. Jackson had been living for more than a decade with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disorder that affects balance, movement and swallowing. In 2017, he publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and had received treatment at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago prior to making the diagnosis public.
Civil rights leader Al Sharpton paid tribute, describing Jackson as “one of our nation’s greatest moral voices.”
“Reverend Jackson stood wherever dignity was under attack, from apartheid abroad to injustice at home,” Sharpton said. “His voice echoed in boardrooms and in jail cells. His presence shifted rooms. His faith never wavered.”
Public observances are expected to be held in Chicago, with further details on celebration of life events to be announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson rose to prominence during the civil rights movement, working closely with Martin Luther King Jr..
He participated in major demonstrations, including the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march, and later joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), where he led Operation Breadbasket, an economic empowerment initiative praised by King.
Jackson was present in Memphis, Tennessee, when King was assassinated in 1968 — a pivotal moment that shaped his lifelong commitment to activism.
In 1971, he founded People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), focusing on economic justice for Black communities. His movement later evolved into the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition after merging with the National Rainbow Coalition, which he established during his 1984 presidential campaign.
Jackson made history with his bids for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988. In his first run, he won more than 18% of the primary vote and carried several primaries and caucuses, significantly expanding Black political participation and reshaping Democratic Party politics.
Though his campaigns were sometimes controversial — including criticism over past remarks for which he later apologized — Jackson remained a central figure in progressive politics for decades.
Beyond electoral politics, Jackson played a role in international diplomacy. He helped negotiate the release of detained Americans abroad, including U.S. soldiers held in Yugoslavia in 1999. In recognition of his efforts, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000.
Over the years, Jackson also secured the release of Americans detained in Syria, Cuba, Iraq and The Gambia, cementing his reputation as an unofficial envoy for humanitarian causes.
In recent years, Jackson remained politically active, speaking out on issues ranging from voting rights to economic inequality. He was a vocal supporter of former President Barack Obama and later endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders during the 2020 presidential race.
Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, Jackson’s influence extended from grassroots organizing to global diplomacy. His life traced the arc of modern American civil rights history — from the marches of the 1960s to the political realignments of the 21st century.