Jesse Jackson: A Champion of Civil Rights Passes Away

Charismatic U.S. civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, a Baptist minister who thrived in the segregated South and closely worked with Martin Luther King Jr., has died at the age of 84, according to a statement from his family.

Jackson, known for his mesmerizing oratory and long-time status as a Chicago icon, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017. His death arrives at a time when Donald Trump’s administration has aimed to reevaluate the narratives embraced by U.S. institutions. Through decades of activism, Jackson advocated for the rights of Black Americans and others marginalized since the civil rights movement era.

Despite never holding an elective office, Jackson ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 1980s and remained a preeminent figure in civil rights, founding the influential Chicago-based Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition. He also served as a special envoy to Africa under Clinton's presidency and facilitated the release of individuals held overseas, showcasing personal diplomacy at its finest.