US civil rights leader and Parkinson’s advocate Jesse Jackson has passed away at the age of 84, according to a statement released by his family.
Jackson announced he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2017, a condition his father had also lived with.
Calling the condition “not a stop sign, but a warning light that I must make lifestyle changes”, Jackson vowed to use his voice to find a cure for Parkinson’s.
However, in November 2025 it was announced his diagnosis had since been confirmed as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) the previous April.
What is Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)?
Tributes to Jesse Jackson
In a statement, the family paid tribute to his ‘tireless’ work, saying: “His unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity.”
Jackson leaves behind wife Jacqueline and their children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline, daughter Ashley, and grandchildren.
Jackson’s family announced his passing on Tuesday morning, via a social media post from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC), an international membership organisation for social change, formed by Jackson in 1996.
Born in South Carolina, US, Jackson’s political career began in the 1960s when he started to work for Martin Luther King Jr. He swiftly became a prominent civil rights leader, playing a significant role in US politics over the subsequent 50 years.
Parkinson’s Europe sends the Jackson family our condolences at this very sad time.
Parkinson’s Europe’s Strategic Director Amelia Hursey said: “We’re sad for Jesse’s family for their loss of such a courageous figure, and pay tribute to all he did to speak up for the Parkinson’s community.
“Parkinson’s and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy are both progressive conditions with no known cure. We don’t yet fully understand what causes them or how we might be able to slow them down, however we will continue to support the hunt for a cure and to improve the lives of people already affected.”
Read Jesse Jackson’s family statement in full:
Jackson Family Statement on the Passing of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.
(Chicago, Illinois)
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 mobilizing 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,” said the Jackson family. *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 honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”
Public observances will be held in Chicago. Final arrangements for Reverend Jackson’s celebration of life services, including all public events, will be released by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition at www.rainbowpush.org and www.jessejacksonleeacy.com.
