Reverend Jesse Jackson, the US civil rights leader and former presidential candidate, has died at the age of 84, his family confirmed on 17 February 2026.
A precise cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. Jackson had faced prolonged health challenges in recent years, including Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disorder affecting movement and balance.
Jackson remained one of the most recognisable figures in American civil rights activism and Democratic Party politics. His career spanned more than six decades, encompassing grassroots organising, national advocacy campaigns and presidential bids that reshaped elements of US political life.
Born in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson grew up during racial segregation in the United States. He became involved in civil rights activism as a student and later studied at the Chicago Theological Seminary, where his political and social engagement deepened.
Jackson emerged as a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement. He was present in Memphis in 1968 when King was assassinated, an event that profoundly influenced his subsequent work and public role.
Following King's death, Jackson founded Operation PUSH in 1971, focusing on economic opportunity, educational access and political participation, according toThe Guardian. He later established the Rainbow Coalition, which sought to build alliances across racial and social groups. The organisations eventually merged to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
Jacksonpublicly discloseda diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in 2017. In subsequent years, his condition was further complicated by progressive supranuclear palsy.
The neurological disorders increasingly affected his mobility and public appearances. Despite declining health, Jackson remained engaged in advocacy work and continued to comment on political and social issues.
His family stated that he died peacefully, surrounded by relatives.
Pouring one out for The Reverend Jesse Jackson. A giant and a champion for civil rights and equality.But can anyone read Green Eggs and Ham better? No.pic.twitter.com/iHPbK1UJYm
Source: International Business Times UK
