The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was a longtime civil rights activist, Baptist minister, and two-time presidential candidate, died on Tuesday.
Rev. Jesse Jackson was 84.
The Jackson family released the following statement:
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Civil Rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. He died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family. His unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity. A tireless change agent, he elevated the voices of the voiceless—from his Presidential campaigns in the 1980s to mobilizing millions to register to vote—leaving an indelible mark on history.
Reverend Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; their children — Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline; daughter Ashley Jackson, and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Burns Jackson; father, Noah Louis Robinson; and stepfather, Charles Henry Jackson.
“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” said the Jackson family. “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 uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”
Public observances will be held in Chicago. Final arrangements for Reverend Jackson’s celebration of life services, including all public events, will be released by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition at www.rainbowpush.org and www.jessejacksonlegacy.com.
Jackson was hospitalized in November 2025 with a rare neurological disorder. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease around a decade ago, but his Rainbow/PUSH organization said that he remained under observation for progressive supranuclear palsy.