Jesse Jackson, one of the most influential figures in the American civil rights movement, has died at the age of 84, his family announced on Tuesday.
According to a statement shared on social media, Jackson passed away peacefully on the morning of 17 February 2026, surrounded by loved ones.
Jackson’s family described him as a “servant leader” whose lifelong commitment to justice and equality lifted millions of people and inspired movements for human rights around the world.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, Jackson rose to prominence in the 1960s as a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., becoming a key voice in the struggle against racial segregation and economic inequality.
Over more than six decades, he was known for tireless advocacy on issues of civil rights, voting rights, and economic justice.
He founded several important organisations, including Operation PUSH and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which mobilised communities and challenged systemic barriers in politics and business.
Jackson also made history as a two-time presidential candidate for the Democratic nomination, campaigning nationally in 1984 and 1988 and breaking barriers as one of the first Black Americans to mount serious bids for the White House.
In later years, Jackson battled serious health challenges.
After publicly living with Parkinson’s disease for years, his condition was later re-evaluated as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare and degenerative neurological disorder.
He had been under medical care in Chicago prior to his death.
Despite his health setbacks, Jackson remained a symbolic and active figure in political and social causes, earning respect from allies and critics alike for his resilience and commitment to the movement he helped build.
World leaders, civil rights organisations, and public figures have begun paying tribute to Jackson’s legacy.
Many highlighted his role in expanding the reach of civil rights activism into national politics and his relentless drive to give voice to the marginalized and overlooked.
Among his recognitions, Jackson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000, the highest civilian honour in the United States, in acknowledgment of his decades of advocacy for justice and equality.
