Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., one of the most influential figures in the civil rights movement, has died at the age of 84. His family announced the news early Tuesday morning.
A cause of death has not been confirmed, but his family said he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said in a statement. “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.”
Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton called his passing a monumental loss, describing Jackson as one of the nation’s most powerful moral voices — a man whose presence commanded attention in both boardrooms and jail cells, and whose faith never faltered.
Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson emerged from the Jim Crow South to become a powerful voice for racial equality and economic justice. He first got involved with the Civil Rights Movement, working alongside Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., marching in major demonstrations and marches in Selma and Montgomery.
In 1971, he founded People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), an organization focused on economic empowerment and civil rights, and later merged it with the National Rainbow Coalition to form the renowned Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, a civil rights organization that focused on social and political justice issues.
In 1984 and 1988, he sought a presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention.
In later years, Jackson faced serious health issues, including Parkinson’s disease and a rare neurological condition known as progressive supranuclear palsy. Despite these challenges, he remained engaged in public life, offering guidance, inspiration, and his signature message: “Keep hope alive.”
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and his children, including former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. Public memorial services are expected to take place in Chicago.
