Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon and two-time presidential candidate, dies at 84
Source: NBC News
Feb. 17, 2026, 4:30 AM EST / Updated Feb. 17, 2026, 4:52 AM EST
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the longtime civil rights activist, Baptist minister and two-time presidential candidate, died Tuesday, his family said. He was 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. 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.
A cause of death was not immediately given. His family said he died peacefully surrounded by his loved ones.
He was admitted to a hospital in November and had been living for more than a decade with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), according to his Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which affects patients ability to walk and swallow and can lead to dangerous complications.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/rev-jesse-jackson-civil-rights-activist-dies-rcna42408
Just breaking and heard on the radio.
This one is heart-breaking
GReedDiamond
(5,537 posts)...may he Rest In Power.
niyad
(131,277 posts)nitpicked
(1,629 posts)gademocrat7
(11,875 posts)A man with a true servants heart.
SunSeeker
(58,111 posts)sinkingfeeling
(57,625 posts)BumRushDaShow
(168,069 posts)StarryNite
(12,081 posts)BeyondGeography
(40,988 posts)BComplex
(9,836 posts)Last edited Tue Feb 17, 2026, 06:44 PM - Edit history (1)
for a Civil Rights march, before the Bush dynasty ruined Texas. I joined him when he cried as Barack Obama came out on stage after winning the presidency in the 2008 election. (The Rev. Jackson was on television, I was at home, but I cried with him over this long struggle nevertheless.)
FalloutShelter
(14,356 posts)This one hurts. The greatest leaders of the justice movement are leaving the planet.
RIP
BlueKota
(5,222 posts)DinahMoeHum
(23,509 posts)get the red out
(14,016 posts)Rev. Jackson showed what being a great American is supposed to be by opposing the Gov when it is wrong and demanding change.
calimary
(89,543 posts)Excellent point!
FailureToCommunicate
(14,589 posts)Jesse and other ministers and his "Rainbow Coalition" people on the return to Edmund Pettius Bridge march and other civil rights events.
Of course we voted for Jesse for President in the 1984 and '88 primaries.
Rest In Peace Reverend Jesse.
(The "bad Jesse" was Jesse Helms at the time)
Marthe48
(22,958 posts)One of my lifelong heroes.
hamsterjill
(17,321 posts)Thank you, Rev. Jackson, for trying so hard. May you be at peace.
BumRushDaShow
(168,069 posts)hamsterjill
(17,321 posts)Id rather not concentrate on anyone but Rev. Jackson at this time.
BumRushDaShow
(168,069 posts)But I only remarked because of your "End of an era" comment and IMHO, there's never an "end", just a passing on to the next generation.
hamsterjill
(17,321 posts)We can discuss Reverend Sharpton at another appropriate time.
calimary
(89,543 posts)Its up to all of us to make sure its not merely the end of an era. Id guess hed want the era NOT to end, EVER. Id expect it to be the continuation, if not the beefing-up and reinvigorating of an era.
BumRushDaShow
(168,069 posts)who managed to "get media attention" through their actions and appearances, passing on.
Now what might be considered "the media" (print/broadcast/cable/satellite) is being supplemented with the "internet media" (streaming/social media/podcasts).
So the whole environment has changed (and splintered) and it will take some innovative future activists to harness that power to be able to become "the signal above the noise".
calimary
(89,543 posts)ESPECIALLY now.
Flash953
(139 posts)To me both Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are American Heroes. Both of them I would follow and support them with all of my energy and my heart. If this country ever gets it's act together again Historians will recognize the bad actors and the good. Oh yeah I didn't mention anything from a religious belief.
hamsterjill
(17,321 posts)I'm saying that my original comment was made for Reverend Jackson. He is the one who has died and I want to take the time to honor him, individually, without including others.
I haven't said anything about Reverend Sharpton because he's not the subject of the post today.
chouchou
(3,028 posts)QueerDuck
(1,377 posts)NBachers
(19,348 posts)Goosebumps and tears for what Jesse Jackson represented.
Buddyzbuddy
(2,402 posts)HipChick
(25,599 posts)JustAnotherGen
(37,893 posts)The Sesame Street, Electric Company, Reading Rainbow, 321 Contact, etc. etc. Era.
Psst - BRDS -
I am somebody.
This one hurts, but he was so sick. May he rest in power and have joy wherever his spirit has flown to.
BumRushDaShow
(168,069 posts)made me seriously choke up.
(and especially now watching it all being "ripped away" and no one cares)
Groundhawg
(1,214 posts)CaptainTruth
(8,139 posts)A great person.
underpants
(195,873 posts)FakeNoose
(41,103 posts)Given the recent health problems, it's probably a relief for his loved ones, knowing that Rev. Jackson is finally free from pain and physical difficulties. Prayers for this decent and holy man, and for his loved ones.
StarryNite
(12,081 posts)twodogsbarking
(18,251 posts)RIP and thank you kind sir.
JohnnyRingo
(20,737 posts)Thank you for your service Reverend
mountain grammy
(28,894 posts)Rest in Peace.. great man!
peppertree
(23,229 posts)I'll never forget the last speech I saw of his - at the 2000 Democratic Convention.
When I heard those thunderous "MOAH, with GOAH!"s, I was convinced we had it in the bag.
But the Bush mafia had the last word.
2naSalit
(101,648 posts)popsdenver
(2,058 posts)Should dominate the opening page of DU...................
Clouds Passing
(7,705 posts)We lost a real leader
fantase56
(494 posts)sheshe2
(96,940 posts)RANDYWILDMAN
(3,149 posts)RIP
oasis
(53,505 posts)I was touched by the beautiful statement by the family.
Rest in peace Jesse.
Wild blueberry
(8,223 posts)Thank you, Rev. Jesse Jackson.
JoseBalow
(9,412 posts)generalbetrayus
(1,701 posts)Rest in Peace AND Power, Reverend Jackson.
c-rational
(3,173 posts)k0rs
(151 posts)My mother, who was an old school rock-ribbed Goldwater Republican, told me she wanted to vote for Jesse. Oh my.
The man had appeal. I nearly had a heart attack. Thank you Jesse, you changed my family for the better.
spudspud
(643 posts)Bayard
(29,211 posts)And in our hearts.
Thank you for your service, Reverend.
Upthevibe
(10,151 posts)...........R.I.P., Jesse Jackson............
ananda
(34,696 posts)in the presidential primary.
I remember that clearly.
He was also the only one to seem to care about
Florida 2000. He led a march in Miami as a
protest.
Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)
Post removed
bdamomma
(69,440 posts)a loss and a great man, RIP Reverend Jackson. You leave a legacy.
Initech
(108,337 posts)Scott Alan Swaggerty
(292 posts)kimbutgar
(27,081 posts)I was in the Chicago airport years ago and said to my husband thats Jesse Jackson. He heard me and came up and shook our hands. And we had a nice conversation. I think I have a photo of him and us somewhere in my photo albums. We were going to a world war 2 reunion of men who served with my Father. I told him about my Dads group the Prometheans, that they were a specialized training program for black men who scored high on tests. All lot of those men became lawyers, doctors, public servants and small business owners. When we got to the reunion and I told group they were so excited!
electric_blue68
(26,644 posts)MustLoveBeagles
(15,592 posts)AllaN01Bear
(29,124 posts)BigDemVoter
(4,693 posts)KT2000
(22,066 posts)A life well lived. A good man. RIP
SergeStorms
(20,332 posts)You made a positive difference, and in my opinion that's a life well lived.
orleans
(36,803 posts)electric_blue68
(26,644 posts)Last edited Tue Feb 17, 2026, 07:57 PM - Edit history (2)
Just saw this.
Sigh. Staunch fighter for justice!
Eta: saw him (and voted for him) in my then nearby neighborhood when he ran for President. And "Little Steven"/Steve Van Zant of the E Street Band introduced him.
dawn5651
(753 posts)BHDem53
(1,128 posts)turbinetree
(27,333 posts)FemDemERA
(760 posts)mzmolly
(52,744 posts)He was an inspiration.
Rest in power good soul.
LetMyPeopleVote
(177,965 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(177,965 posts)BumRushDaShow
(168,069 posts)Just found this more extended video clip of him that night -
Bluestocking
(604 posts)until his hymietown comment. I went from excitement to disappointment.
GoodRaisin
(10,835 posts)Ellen Forradalom
(16,187 posts)in my hometown of Chicago and beyond. May we all remain a rainbow coalition of people united to serve humanity. Rest in power, reverend.
benfranklin1776
(6,997 posts)🕯️💙

