Reverend Jesse Jackson Dead at 84

Reverend Jesse Jackson, the civil rights icon and Baptist minister who twice ran for U.S. president, has passed away, as confirmed by his family.

Jesse’s family released a statement on Tuesday morning, expressing that “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 continued, “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 honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”

Jackson passed away peacefully with his loved ones by his side, although the official cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

In November, Jesse was hospitalized after battling progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) for over a decade, according to his organization Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The disease affects mobility and swallowing and carries severe complications. Additionally, Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017.

Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson emerged as a prominent activist during the civil rights movement. He formed a close bond with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and participated in various demonstrations advocating for the rights of African Americans and the underprivileged.

Jackson also ventured into politics, running for the presidency of the United States in both 1984 and 1988, although he was unsuccessful on both occasions.

During his 1984 campaign for the Democratic nomination, he famously referred to New York City as “Hymietown,” a derogatory term aimed at the city’s Jewish population. Subsequently, Ronald Reagan secured a landslide victory in the 1984 election.

That same year, Jackson established the National Rainbow Coalition, which criticized Reagan’s policies and advocated for social programs, voting rights, and affirmative action. In 1996, his organizations PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition merged, continuing his crusade for the disadvantaged and African American communities.

In 1999, Jackson played a pivotal role in negotiating the release of three U.S. servicemen detained in Yugoslavia. For his efforts in brokering the deal, then-President Bill Clinton awarded Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

He also successfully engaged in diplomatic efforts to secure the return of American military personnel held captive in Syria, Cuba, Iraq, and Gambia. Additionally, he was elected as a “shadow senator” in 1991 to advocate for Washington D.C. statehood, serving in that capacity for a period of time.

Jackson’s passing occurred at the age of 84.