jesse jackson dies aged 84 — civil rights titan remembered
Jesse Jackson, the veteran civil rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, has died aged 84. His family said he died peacefully Tuesday morning (ET), surrounded by relatives. No formal cause of death has been released; Jackson had been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy after a lengthy illness.
Legacy: movement building, presidential bids and global advocacy
Jackson rose to national prominence in the 1960s as a leader within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. He was with King in Memphis in 1968 when the civil rights leader was assassinated. Over the following decades Jackson built a political and social movement focused on poor and working-class Americans and on bringing diverse communities together.
His two presidential campaigns in the 1980s mobilised voters and broadened the Democratic coalition, elevating issues affecting Black, Latino, Asian and low-income white communities. Jackson’s work on voter registration and grassroots organising helped register millions and shaped the tactics of later campaigns. He formed a nonprofit organisation dedicated to social justice and civil rights that became a prominent vehicle for his long-running activism and international diplomacy.
Reactions from presidents, peers and the public
Tributes poured in from leaders and activists who described Jackson as a transformative figure. One former president called him "a true giant" and said Jackson’s presidential bids laid the groundwork for later breakthroughs in American politics. Another said history will remember him as "a man of God and of the people, " praising his optimism and relentless insistence on justice.
Former first ladies and presidents recalled Jackson’s decades-long friendship with their family, noting his role in expanding opportunity for generations. Veteran civil rights campaigners praised him as a consequential leader who shaped public policy and inspired young activists. Voices from across the political spectrum acknowledged his impact on American civic life and his insistence on dignity and respect for all.
Health, final years and family
Jackson had been hospitalised in November and in April 2025 received a revised diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare degenerative brain disorder that had earlier been identified as Parkinson’s disease. Medical experts note that progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson’s share overlapping symptoms, which can complicate diagnosis.
His family said his "unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity. " They added that he was a "tireless change agent" who elevated the voices of the voiceless from his presidential campaigns to large-scale voter registration efforts. Jackson is survived by his wife Jacqueline and their children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline and Ashley. His son Jesse Jackson Jr. is a former member of Congress.
For more than six decades Jackson’s work spanned local organising, national politics and international advocacy. Whether remembered for his street-level activism, his bold challenges for the presidency, or his role as an elder statesman, his influence on American political life and civil rights activism endures.
