Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Leader, Dies at 84

Jesse Jackson, a prominent civil rights leader and former presidential candidate, died peacefully at the age of 84 on Tuesday morning, surrounded by family. Jackson had been diagnosed with a degenerative condition known as progressive supranuclear palsy in 2017, following a previous diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in 1997.

Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson became involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, working closely with Martin Luther King Jr. and becoming a key figure in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 1984, focusing on social justice and voter engagement.

Jackson ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, receiving significant support despite controversies, including remarks that drew criticism from the Jewish community. His legacy includes a lifelong commitment to civil rights and advocacy for disenfranchised groups both in the United States and abroad.