Renowned American civil rights leader, Rev. Jesse Jackson, has died at the age of 84.
The family announced in a statement on Tuesday morning that the veteran activist “died peacefully… surrounded by his family.”
“Our father was a servant leader – not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said.
Jackson was a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement, working closely with Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1960s struggle for racial equality.
He later entered politics and twice sought the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party in 1984 and 1988.
In 2017, Jackson disclosed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which he described as a “physical challenge,” but he continued advocacy work.
Last November, he was hospitalised for observation after doctors diagnosed a degenerative neurological condition known as progressive supranuclear palsy.
His cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
The full family statement read: “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 mobilising 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. 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 honour his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.’”
“Public observances will be held in Chicago, according to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which Jackson founded.”
Details of his celebration of life services and public events are expected to be announced later.
