Reverend Jesse Jackson Dies at 84: Civil Rights Leader and Two-Time Presidential Candidate Passes Away

Reverend Jesse Jackson, the longtime civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and two-time U.S. presidential candidate, died on 17/02/2026 at the age of 84. According to a statement from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the organization he founded, Jackson passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning at his home in Chicago, Illinois, surrounded by family members. No specific cause of death was immediately released. Jackson had faced significant health challenges for more than a decade. In 2017, he publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His condition was later updated to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare and progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, balance, speech, and eye function. In November 2025, he was hospitalized for observation and treatment related to his declining health. Leaders from across the political spectrum issued statements following news of his death. Former President Barack Obama described Jackson as a “true giant” and said he “stood on his shoulders” in becoming the first Black president of the United States. Former President Donald Trump called Jackson a “force of nature” with “grit and street smarts.” Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., wrote in a tribute that her father and Jackson are “both now ancestors.” Over several decades, Jackson was also involved in international diplomacy efforts, voter registration drives, and advocacy on issues including economic justice, education, and voting rights. Through the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and other initiatives, he remained active in public life well into his later years despite ongoing health challenges. Jackson is survived by his family and by a network of organizations and activists influenced by his work in civil rights and American politics.