By Mary Onyia
Veteran United States civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson has died at the age of 84, his family confirmed in a statement on Tuesday. The prominent preacher and political advocate, whose voice resonated across decades of America’s struggle for racial justice, passed away surrounded by loved ones.
In a heartfelt tribute, Jackson’s family described him as a tireless champion of justice, equality and love. “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,” the statement read.
Jackson rose to national prominence in the 1960s as a close associate Martin Luther King Jnr., playing a significant role in the civil rights movement. Following King’s assassination in 1968, he founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) to promote economic empowerment and social justice for African Americans. He later established the Rainbow Coalition aimed at building alliances among marginalized communities.
In 1984 and 1988, Jackson made history by seeking the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, becoming one of the first African Americans to mount a serious bid for the White House. Though unsuccessful, his campaigns expanded minority political participation and reshaped the national conversation on race and equality.
For more than five decades, Jackson remained a powerful moral voice in American public life — advocating for voting rights, economic inclusion, and social reform. His passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy endures in the ongoing struggle for civil rights and justice.