JUST IN: Popular US Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson Dies

Renowned American civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson has died at the age of 84, his family and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition confirmed. Jackson had been hospitalized in recent months with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). He passed away Tuesday morning, surrounded by family.

Jackson, a protégé of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., rose from humble beginnings in Jim Crow-era Greenville, South Carolina, to become a defining figure in America’s fight for racial equality. His activism and political campaigns reshaped the Democratic Party and inspired millions worldwide.

He was best known for his two presidential bids in the 1980s, which broke barriers for Black candidates and introduced progressive issues, including early advocacy for gay rights, into mainstream politics. Jackson also created the Rainbow Coalition, a multiracial alliance of Black, White, Latino, Asian, Native American, and LGBTQ voters that strengthened the party’s progressive base.

“His unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity,” the Rainbow PUSH Coalition said in a statement.

Jackson’s influence extended beyond politics. He worked tirelessly to increase voter registration, negotiated the release of prisoners in Cuba and Yugoslavia, and remained a bridge between the civil rights movements of the 1960s and today. His motto, “Keep hope alive,” became a rallying cry for generations seeking social justice.

Despite personal and political controversies, Jackson’s life was marked by resilience and vision. He married Jacqueline Lavinia Brown in 1962, and together they raised six children while he maintained decades of public activism.

He was celebrated in 2024 at the Democratic National Convention, recognising his role in shaping a more inclusive political landscape that paved the way for leaders like Barack Obama and Kamala Harris.

Jackson is survived by his wife Jacqueline and their six children: Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline, and Ashley. His legacy remains a testament to the fight for equality, both in America and around the world.