Rev. Jesse Jackson, the charismatic Baptist preacher, civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate who was a protege of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has died at the age of 84.
"Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world," the Jackson family said in a statement, adding that he "died peacefully," surrounded by loved ones.
"We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. 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."
Rev. Jackson was among the nation's most influential Black leaders, bridging the civil rights era of the 1960s led by Dr. King and the election of President Obama in 2008.
He was with Dr. King at the time of his assassination in 1968 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, and later publicly positioned himself as Dr. King's successor in leading the Civil Rights Movement.
Rev. Jackson went on to found the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization that advocates for civil rights, economic justice and political empowerment.
"For more than six decades, Reverend Jackson dedicated his life to advancing equality, dismantling systems of oppression, and amplifying the voices of the underserved," the organization wrote after his passing.
"His legacy will continue to inspire future generations through the tireless, dedicated work of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization rooted in the progressive fight for social change."
Rev. Jackson was also a two-time presidential candidate, coming closer to a major-party nomination than any Black candidate before him.
He finished third in the race for the Democratic nomination in 1984 — the highest placement for a Black candidate at the time — and finished second in 1988.
The reverend was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015. Years later, he said he had also been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurological disorder that affects movement.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and their six children.
Rev. Al Sharpton paid tribute to the late reverend, calling him a "consequential and transformative figure" and reflecting on how Dr. King's assassination propelled Rev. Jackson to never stop fighting for what he believed.
Former President Obama called him a "true giant" who "laid the foundation" for his own presidential campaign.
"For more than 60 years, Reverend Jackson helped lead some of the most significant movements for change in human history," he wrote in a statement.
"From organizing boycotts and sit-ins, to registering millions of voters, to advocating for freedom and democracy around the world, he was relentless in his belief that we are all children of God, deserving of dignity and respect."
President Trumpposted a series of photos of himself with Rev. Jackson over the years and called him a "good man, with lots of personality, grit and 'street smarts.'"
"Despite the fact that I am falsely and consistently called a Racist by the Scoundrels and Lunatics on the Radical Left, Democrats ALL, it was always my pleasure to help Jesse along the way," he wrote on social media.
"Jesse was a force of nature like few others before him. He had much to do with the Election, without acknowledgment or credit, of Barack Hussein Obama, a man who Jesse could not stand. He loved his family greatly, and to them I send my deepest sympathies and condolences. Jesse will be missed!"
Learn more about Rev. Jackson — and tune into C-SPAN2 for an all-night marathon highlighting the pastor's life and career.
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For your radar…
Govs. Spencer Cox (R-UT), Kevin Stitt (R-OK) and Wes Moore (D-MD) sit down Wednesday with NPR host Steve Inskeep to discuss the state of American democracy and the importance of civil discourse. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN at 5pm ET.
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