politics
February 18, 2026
US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson dies
US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has died at his home at the age of 84
TL;DR
- Jesse L. Jackson, a prominent US civil rights leader and former presidential candidate, died at 84.
- He was a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was with him when he was assassinated.
- Jackson dedicated his life to activism for causes like voting rights, healthcare access, and racial equality.
- He ran for president in 1984 and 1988, achieving significant success in the Democratic primaries.
- He was accused by author Kenneth R. Timmerman of shaking down corporations by alleging racism and threatening boycotts.
- Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017 and later battled progressive supranuclear palsy.