U.S. civil rights icon Jesse Jackson died on Tuesday morning at the age of 84, surrounded by family members, according to a statement released by his relatives. The family said he passed away “peacefully.”
The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. Jackson had been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare degenerative neurological disorder, and was hospitalized late last year.
In their statement, Jackson’s family said his “unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity,” calling him a “tireless change agent” whose work empowered millions. His efforts — from presidential campaigns in the 1980s to nationwide voter-registration drives — left “an indelible mark on history,” they said.
Tributes From Across the Nation
Tributes poured in for Jackson — a towering figure in American public life, founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and a two-time Democratic presidential contender.
Former President Barack Obama, the first Black U.S. president, hailed Jackson as a “true giant,” saying his historic presidential campaigns “laid the foundation” for Obama’s own rise to the White House. Michelle Obama, he added, “got her first glimpse of political organizing at the Jacksons’ kitchen table when she was a teenager.”
In a joint statement, the Obamas said Jackson “helped lead some of the most significant movements for change in human history,” from boycotts and sit-ins to global advocacy for democracy and human rights.
U.S. President Donald Trump also paid tribute, saying he had known Jackson “long before becoming president,” describing him as “a good man” with “lots of personality, grit, and street smarts.”
Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton said they had known Jackson for nearly fifty years, calling him a champion of human dignity who created opportunities for countless Americans.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remembered him as a “legendary voice for the voiceless,” while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised his unwavering demand that America “live up to its promise.”
Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., said Jackson “devoted his life to lifting people in poverty, the marginalized, and those pushed to society’s edges.”
Civil rights leader Al Sharpton, who worked closely with Jackson, called him a “consequential and transformative leader” who inspired generations. “He told us we were somebody and made us believe,” Sharpton said.
A Life of Activism and Influence
Born in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson entered politics early and rose to prominence in the 1960s as a leader within Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was present with King when the civil rights leader was assassinated in Memphis in 1968.
Jackson became a national figure across decades, championing racial justice, economic equality, and multiracial political coalitions. His message centered on poor and working-class Americans, appealing across racial and ethnic lines.
After his presidential runs in 1984 and 1988, Jackson solidified his status as a respected elder statesman in the Democratic Party.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Jackson, and their children: Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline, and Ashley. His son Jesse Jackson Jr. is a former U.S. congressman.