US Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson Dies at 84

The family of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. announced his peaceful death on Tuesday morning, surrounded by loved ones. Jackson, the founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and a key figure in the fight for racial equality, had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare degenerative disease, after being diagnosed in April 2025.

A tireless advocate for justice, Jackson’s impact spanned decades. He ran for president twice in the 1980s, laying the groundwork for future campaigns, including that of President Barack Obama. Obama, who described Jackson as a “true giant,” credited him with “helping lead some of the most significant movements for change in human history,” from voter registration drives to advocating for democracy worldwide.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, Jackson rose to prominence in the 1960s as a leader in Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, famously standing by King during his assassination in 1968. Over the years, Jackson worked to unite a diverse America, focusing on the rights of poor and working-class citizens.

In addition to his presidential bids, Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition played a critical role in the fight for civil rights and social justice, both in the U.S. and abroad. His vision for a more just and inclusive society influenced generations of leaders.

His passing has sparked tributes from political leaders, including former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump, all acknowledging his transformative impact. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and civil rights figures such as Reverend Al Sharpton and Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., also paid their respects, remembering Jackson’s enduring commitment to equality.

Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and their children. His legacy as an activist, politician, and global advocate for human dignity remains an indelible part of history.