Civil Rights Icon Rev. Jesse Jackson Dies at 84

Civil Rights Icon Rev. Jesse Jackson Dies at 84

**Lagos, February 17, 2026** — The Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., a towering figure in the American civil rights movement, two-time presidential candidate, and lifelong advocate for justice and equality, has died at the age of 84.

Jackson passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, February 17, 2026, surrounded by his family, according to a statement from his organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, posted on social media.

"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Civil Rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.," the statement read. "He died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family. His unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights leaves an indelible mark on the world."

No immediate cause of death was provided by the family, though Jackson had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare degenerative brain condition similar to Parkinson's disease, for more than a decade. He was previously diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2017 and had been hospitalized as recently as November 2025 for observation related to his condition.

Born Jesse Louis Burns on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson grew up in the segregated South and rose to prominence as a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was present at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on April 4, 1968, when King was assassinated, and he continued King's work through organizations such as Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) and later the Rainbow Coalition.

Jackson became a national figure through his powerful oratory and activism, pushing for voting rights, economic justice, corporate accountability, and diversity. He negotiated the release of American hostages abroad and challenged systemic racism in boardrooms and politics.

In 1984 and 1988, he mounted historic campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination, becoming the first African American to mount a serious, competitive bid for a major-party presidential nomination. In 1988, he won 11 primaries and caucuses and secured nearly 30% of the popular vote, galvanizing a broad coalition of voters often referred to as the "Rainbow Coalition."

His famous slogans—"I Am Somebody," "Keep Hope Alive," and "Our Time Has Come"—inspired generations of activists and politicians.

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum and around the world following news of his death. Leaders from the civil rights community, Democratic Party figures, and global human rights advocates remembered him as a "servant leader" who dedicated his life to uplifting the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked.

Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; their five children—Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, and Jacqueline—and other family members.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days. His legacy as a pathfinder for racial and social justice is likely to endure for generations.