Jesse Jackson, a prominent American civil rights activist and Baptist minister who ran for president twice in the 1980s, has died, according to reports. He was 84 years old.
Jackson passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, as confirmed by Wikipedia. His death marks the end of an era for the American civil rights movement, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy for racial equality and social justice.
Born Jesse Louis Burns on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson rose to national prominence as a key figure in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) alongside Martin Luther King Jr. He later founded the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition in 1971, continuing his work as a champion for the marginalized and disenfranchised.
Jackson was a two-time candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, mounting strong campaigns in 1984 and 1988 that brought issues of poverty and racial injustice to the forefront of national political discourse. While he did not secure the nomination, his runs were considered groundbreaking for an African American politician.
Beyond his political activism, Jackson was as well recognized for his diplomatic efforts, serving as a shadow congressperson for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was also a member of the Freemasonry. L’Est Républicain reported that he was made a Commandeur de la Légion d’honneur.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Jackson, whom he married in 1962, and their children, Santita Jackson, Jesse Jackson Jr., and Jonathan Jackson. His passing is being mourned by leaders and activists across the political spectrum, who remember him as a tireless advocate for a more just and equitable society. BFM noted his role as a defender of the rights of Afro-Americans.
The death of Jesse Jackson represents a significant loss for the global movement for civil rights and social justice, and his influence will continue to be felt for generations to come.
