Rev. Jesse Jackson, Legendary Civil Rights Leader, Has Died – Latest Details

The civil rights icon and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient will be remembered for standing at the forefront of many defining moments in U.S. history.

Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson has died at age 84 after being admitted to the hospital and placed under observation for an illness. The Baptist minister died on Tuesday, February 17, surrounded by his loved ones.

Jackson's family confirmed his passing in an emotional Instagram statement, sharing that he died peacefully. Prior to his death, he had been hospitalized while under observation for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative disease he had lived with for more than 10 years.

He was first diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but last April, doctors confirmed he had PSP. His son, Jesse Jr., later said there had been "significant improvement" in the civil rights leader's condition during the previous 24 hours while receiving medical care, before he ultimately died.

PSP is a rare neurological condition that affects movement, including walking, balance, and eye control. The disorder usually begins when a person is in their 60s and can share some symptoms with Parkinson's disease. Most people diagnosed with PSP develop severe disability within three to five years.

In their statement, the family said the founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition was deeply devoted to justice, equality, and human rights. They said Jackson helped build a global movement centered on freedom and dignity, calling him a "voice of the voiceless" and a "tireless change agent."

They added that he made a lasting mark through his work in presidential campaigns during the 1980s and through his efforts to encourage voter participation.

The family mourned him, writing, "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."

They added, "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."

Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Jackson, whom he married in 1962, their five children — Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, and Jacqueline — as well as another daughter, Ashley. He is also survived by his grandchildren.