By Tephanie Delaney
CHICAGO — The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., the towering civil rights icon, two-time presidential candidate, and protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday morning, February 17, 2026. He was 84.
His family confirmed the news in a moving statement, describing him as a “servant leader” who dedicated nearly seven decades to the “oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.” Jackson had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disorder, following a long-term struggle with Parkinson’s disease.
A Legacy Born of Struggle
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, Jackson’s journey from the segregated South to the global stage was defined by a refusal to accept the status quo. His activism began in earnest during his college years at North Carolina A&T, where he became a leader in the sit-in movement.
By 1965, he had joined Dr. King in Selma, Alabama, quickly becoming a key lieutenant in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Jackson was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis when Dr. King was assassinated in 1968—a moment that catalyzed his lifelong mission to carry the mantle of the movement.
Redefining American Politics
Jackson’s impact on the American political landscape was transformative. Through his founding of Operation PUSH and later the Rainbow Coalition, he bridged racial and economic divides, advocating for a “multicultural, multi-class” alliance.
His historic runs for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 shattered ceilings:
- The 1984 Campaign: He registered millions of new voters and proved that a Black candidate could run a serious, national campaign.
- The 1988 Campaign: He won 13 primaries and caucuses, finishing second only to Michael Dukakis and forever altering how the Democratic Party approaches its base.
His famous mantra, “Keep Hope Alive,” delivered at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, became a rallying cry for generations of activists and politicians who followed in his footsteps.
The Final Chapter
In his later years, despite the physical toll of his illness, Jackson remained a fixture at protests and rallies, lending his voice to the Black Lives Matter movement and advocating for global peace. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000 for his work as a “shadow senator” and diplomat who successfully negotiated the release of American hostages abroad.
“Our father was a servant leader… We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family.”
— The Jackson Family Statement
Reverend Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and their six children. Public commemorations are expected to be held in Chicago, the city that served as his base of power for more than half a century.
