Reverend Jesse Jackson, the towering civil rights leader and two-time Democratic presidential candidate, has died at the age of 84.
Surrounded by family, Jackson passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of justice, equality, and activism that spanned more than six decades.
Born in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, Jesse Louis Jackson became politically active at a young age. He rose to prominence in the 1960s as a leader within Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was present with King when he was assassinated in Memphis in 1968.
Jackson dedicated his life to uniting America’s diverse population, focusing on the rights of poor and working-class communities. His work in organizing boycotts, sit-ins, and voter registration drives positioned him as one of the most influential figures in modern civil rights history.
Presidential campaigns
Jackson twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, in 1984 and 1988, breaking racial barriers and inspiring millions of Americans. His campaigns amplified the voices of marginalized communities and helped pave the way for leaders like Barack Obama.
The Obamas paid tribute to Jackson, highlighting his mentorship and noting that Michelle Obama’s first experience with political organizing occurred at the Jackson family’s kitchen table as a teenager. “For more than 60 years, Reverend Jackson helped lead some of the most significant movements for change in human history,” they said.
Rainbow PUSH coalition
In addition to his political campaigns, Jackson founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to social justice, civil rights, and economic equality. Through the organization, he fought for human dignity, education, and access to opportunities for marginalized communities worldwide.
Reverend Al Sharpton described Jackson as “a consequential and transformative leader who changed this nation and the world,” while King’s daughter Bernice said he “devoted his life to lifting people in poverty, the marginalized, and those pushed to society’s edges.”
Health and passing
Jackson had been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in April 2025, a rare degenerative condition affecting the brain and nervous system, revising an earlier diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. He had been hospitalized late last year.
He is survived by his wife Jacqueline and their six children: Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline, and Ashley. The family remembered him as a tireless advocate whose “unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity.”
Tributes from leaders
Global and domestic leaders mourned Jackson’s passing. Former President Barack Obama called him a “true giant” whose historic presidential runs laid the foundation for his own campaign. President Donald Trump remembered him as “a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and street smarts,” while Bill and Hillary Clinton praised Jackson for championing human dignity.
Political leaders including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani hailed Jackson as a relentless advocate for justice, while civil rights peers emphasized the profound impact of his mentorship and leadership.
