According to CBS News, Jackson passed away peacefully Tuesday morning surrounded by his loved ones.
Jackson had been hospitalized in November for observation. Doctors previously said he was living with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare degenerative brain disorder. In 2017, Jackson publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a nervous system disorder that gradually limits movement and daily activities.
Despite calling it a “physical challenge,” Jackson said he would not allow the illness to stop his civil rights work. His father, Noah Lewis Robinson Sr., also had Parkinson’s disease and died from complications related to it in 1997 at age 88.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson (1941–2026) was a prominent civil rights leader, Baptist minister and two-time U.S. presidential candidate who became one of the most influential political activists of the late 20th century.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson rose to national prominence in the 1960s as a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and was present during key moments of the civil rights movement, including economic justice campaigns and voting rights efforts.
In 1971, Jackson founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), later merging it into the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization focused on civil rights, economic empowerment and social justice. Through the group, he advocated for minority business development, voter registration and equal opportunity initiatives.
Jackson made history with his groundbreaking presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988. In 1988, he won several Democratic primaries and caucuses, finishing second in the nomination race and expanding Black political participation nationwide. His “Rainbow Coalition” platform emphasized unity among diverse racial, economic and social groups.
RIP Jesse Jackson, 84.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 17, 2026
Civil rights icon.
Trailblazer.
Extraordinary tour de force.
Man of incredible courage.
One of the greatest orators in modern history.
What a life, what an inspiration.👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/M8XDFykJeG
Throughout his career, Jackson was known for his powerful oratory, grassroots organizing and international diplomacy efforts, including negotiating the release of American hostages abroad.
I first met Rev. Jesse Jackson when I was a new MP in 1987. He was very smart, warm and hugely charismatic.
— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) February 17, 2026
A direct connection to the great era of civil rights.
RIP. pic.twitter.com/d6p1GWe0ih
