Jesse Jackson Dies: A Giant of the US Civil Rights Movement Passes Away

The death of Jesse Jackson closes a significant chapter in the history of the American fight for equal rights. The clergyman died in Chicago, surrounded by family, after struggling with Parkinson's disease and a rare neurological disorder that in recent years had limited his mobility and speech. Jackson was a figure of global stature whose activities extended far beyond the borders of the United States, encompassing mediation in international conflicts and support for democratic movements in Northern Ireland and South Africa. His children, in emotional statements, emphasized that he maintained his determination in the fight for social justice until the end. Jesse Jackson was present at the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 in Memphis, which shaped his later path as a successor to the peaceful mission of fighting for the rights of Black Americans.In the 1980s, Jackson twice sought the party's presidential nomination, building the so-called Rainbow Coalition. This was a political project aimed at uniting ethnic minorities, the working class, and marginalized groups under one banner. Although he did not win the presidency, his campaigns in 1984 and 1988 paved the way for future leaders, including Barack Obama. Jackson also gained recognition for introducing the term African American into the mainstream debate, replacing terms considered outdated or offensive. 84 years — Jesse Jackson's age at the time of deathLeaders from around the world, including Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, paid tribute to the deceased, calling him a patriot and a force of nature. Jackson leaves behind the legacy of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition organization, which for decades has fought for economic justice and increased representation of minorities in corporate America. His famous rallying cry „Keep Hope Alive” became a symbol of survival for many generations of social activists. [{"dataISO": "1968-04-04", "data": "April 4, 1968", "title": "Death of MLK", "description": "Jackson witnesses the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis."}, {"dataISO": "1971", "data": "1971", "title": "PUSH Founded", "description": "Founding of the People United to Save Humanity organization in Chicago."}, {"dataISO": "1984", "data": "1984", "title": "Presidential Campaign", "description": "First historic run for the Democratic Party nomination."}, {"dataISO": "1988", "data": "1988", "title": "Rainbow Coalition", "description": "Second presidential campaign, in which he garnered nearly 7 million votes."}, {"dataISO": "2026-02-17", "data": "February 17, 2026", "title": "Leader's Death", "description": "Jesse Jackson dies at the age of 84 at his home in Chicago."}]