Reverend Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Leader and Two-Time US Presidential Candidate, Dies at 84 Surrounded by Family

The Reverend Jesse Jackson, a prominent civil rights activist, Baptist minister, and two-time presidential candidate, passed away on February 17, 2026, at the age of 84, as announced by his family.

Family Confirmation and Statement

The family shared the news through a statement on the reverend’s Instagram account, noting that he died peacefully in the morning, surrounded by loved ones.

“Our father was a servant leader, not only for our family but also for the oppressed, the voiceless, and the marginalized around the world,” the family wrote. “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 inspired millions, and we ask that you honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he championed.”

The statement described him as an “incansable agent of change” who amplified the voices of the unheard, from his 1980s presidential campaigns to mobilizing millions to register to vote, leaving an indelible mark on history.

Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline, and Ashley; and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother, Helen Burns Jackson; father, Noah Louis Robinson; and stepfather, Charles Henry Jackson.

The family indicated that public observances will take place in Chicago, with final arrangements for memorial services to be announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Health Struggles

In December 2025, Jackson was hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disorder.

According to the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, PSP is a uncommon condition that impacts body movements, walking, balance, and eye movements. It typically appears in people in their 60s and shares some symptoms with Parkinson’s disease. Severe disability often develops within three to five years.

Jackson had revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2017 and received outpatient treatment at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago for at least two years before making it public. By then, he noted that routine activities had become increasingly challenging.

Background and Legacy

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, to a single mother, Jackson became an iconic figure in the US civil rights movement. He founded Operation PUSH in 1971, three years after witnessing the assassination of his fellow activist Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis.

In 1996, the organization merged with The National Rainbow Coalition to form the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a multiracial, multi-issue, progressive international group dedicated to protecting and advancing civil rights and seeking social change.

Jackson stepped down from leading the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 2023.