Rev. Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Icon, Dies at 84

The Reverend Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the American civil rights movement and a two-time presidential candidate, died on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the age of 84. He passed away peacefully in Chicago, Illinois, surrounded by his family, according to a family statement NBC News.

A Legacy of Activism

Jesse Jackson’s career spanned decades, beginning as a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. During the civil rights movement. He participated in demonstrations alongside King and, after King’s assassination, positioned himself as a successor to his perform NBC Right Now. He founded organizations that later merged to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, advocating for the poor and underrepresented on issues ranging from voting rights and job opportunities to education and healthcare.

Political Career and Presidential Bids

Jackson served as a shadow delegate and shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997 Wikipedia. He launched presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988, achieving significant success and bringing issues of racial and economic justice to the forefront of national political discourse. He was a vocal critic of the Reagan administration in the 1980s Wikipedia.

Health and Recent Years

In 2017, Jackson publicly announced his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease NBC News. He had been living with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) for more than a decade, a condition affecting patients’ ability to walk and swallow NBC News.

Family and Remembrance

Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Brown, and six children, including former U.S. Representatives Jesse Jackson Jr. And Jonathan Jackson Wikipedia. The Jackson family released a statement expressing their gratitude for the outpouring of support and requesting that his memory be honored by continuing the fight for justice, equality, and love NBC News. Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton described Jackson as “one of our nation’s greatest moral voices” NBC News.