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BumRushDaShow

(168,069 posts)
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 05:02 AM Feb 17

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
84 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon and two-time presidential candidate, dies at 84 (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Feb 17 OP
RIP Rev. Jesse Jackson... GReedDiamond Feb 17 #1
Rest in power, brave warrior. niyad Feb 17 #2
Link to AP (long obituary) nitpicked Feb 17 #3
Rest In Peace, Rev. Jesse Jackson. gademocrat7 Feb 17 #4
... SunSeeker Feb 17 #5
So sad. sinkingfeeling Feb 17 #6
1972 - Sesame Street BumRushDaShow Feb 17 #7
That's beautiful. StarryNite Feb 17 #33
He was an absolute giant BeyondGeography Feb 17 #8
He was a great man. I marched with him at UTx in 1970 or 1971 when he came down BComplex Feb 17 #9
Rest in Power Jesse. FalloutShelter Feb 17 #10
May he rest in peace! BlueKota Feb 17 #11
Rest In Power, Rev. Jackson. DinahMoeHum Feb 17 #12
Great American get the red out Feb 17 #13
Excellent post. calimary Feb 17 #67
"The good Jesse" as our family called him. I never met him, but my father marched with FailureToCommunicate Feb 17 #14
R.I.P. Marthe48 Feb 17 #15
The end of an era. hamsterjill Feb 17 #16
His protege, Rev. Al Sharpton, will be keeping hope alive! BumRushDaShow Feb 17 #17
My comment was to honor Reverend Jackson's hard work hamsterjill Feb 17 #21
Oh I know. Rev. Jackson's 1984 campaign was my first political candidate donation when he ran for President BumRushDaShow Feb 17 #24
Understood. hamsterjill Feb 17 #27
Good point. calimary Feb 17 #68
You have some activists/leaders from the "pre-internet" era BumRushDaShow Feb 17 #70
We definitely do need that! calimary Feb 17 #71
Both of these peoples actions will be remembered and they are both heroes. Flash953 Feb 17 #52
No one has said otherwise. hamsterjill Feb 17 #57
A wonderful human being. Told the truth and was happy to tell it. chouchou Feb 17 #18
Rest in Peace. 🌈 QueerDuck Feb 17 #19
I was a Teamster on strike - Jesse came and encouraged us. I voted for each of his Presidential campaigns. NBachers Feb 17 #20
Rest in peace, Reverend, you've earned it. Buddyzbuddy Feb 17 #22
Rest In Paradise.. HipChick Feb 17 #23
I'm a kid from JustAnotherGen Feb 17 #25
That Sesame Street clip BumRushDaShow Feb 17 #30
Was not a fan. Groundhawg Feb 17 #26
RIP Rev Jackson CaptainTruth Feb 17 #28
❤️ underpants Feb 17 #29
Jesse Jackson, rest in peace knowing that you will be remembered and admired FakeNoose Feb 17 #31
RIP Rev Jackson StarryNite Feb 17 #32
Not unlike other peace activists the government and media treated him unfairly. He kept on regardless. twodogsbarking Feb 17 #34
Sadly.... JohnnyRingo Feb 17 #35
Keep Hope Alive! mountain grammy Feb 17 #36
Hear, hear peppertree Feb 17 #72
... 2naSalit Feb 17 #37
THIS NEWS popsdenver Feb 17 #38
NO! Jesse Clouds Passing Feb 17 #39
... fantase56 Feb 17 #40
RIP Rev. Jesse Jackson. sheshe2 Feb 17 #41
Miss you Jesse RANDYWILDMAN Feb 17 #42
Another historical great has passed. oasis Feb 17 #43
Genuine servant leader Wild blueberry Feb 17 #44
Adios JoseBalow Feb 17 #45
I so hate it so much it when one of our old friends in the DU world dies, yet Orange Julius Caesar lives on. generalbetrayus Feb 17 #46
RIP Jesse Jackson. Thank you for alll you have done for us! c-rational Feb 17 #47
I remember k0rs Feb 17 #48
RIP Rev. Jackson. spudspud Feb 17 #49
You will be remembered as a leader in history books, Bayard Feb 17 #50
............... Upthevibe Feb 17 #51
My mother was so please and excited to vote for him... ananda Feb 17 #53
Post removed Post removed Feb 17 #54
Oh, what bdamomma Feb 17 #55
RIP! Legend. Initech Feb 17 #56
... Scott Alan Swaggerty Feb 17 #58
He was such a giant in our civil rights fight kimbutgar Feb 17 #59
That's a great story! electric_blue68 Feb 17 #78
RIP 😔 MustLoveBeagles Feb 17 #60
"" AllaN01Bear Feb 17 #61
I am just seeing this. . . . BigDemVoter Feb 17 #62
He knew how to be a leader KT2000 Feb 17 #63
RIP, Reverend Jackson. SergeStorms Feb 17 #64
... orleans Feb 17 #65
Rest in Power, and Peace Rev Jackson... electric_blue68 Feb 17 #66
rest in peace rev. jackson. dawn5651 Feb 17 #69
Rest easy, Jesse. BHDem53 Feb 17 #73
A True Hero................is so many ways............. turbinetree Feb 17 #74
RIP... FemDemERA Feb 17 #75
My very first primary vote went to Jesse. mzmolly Feb 17 #76
Statement of President Clinton and Secretary Clinton on the passing of Jesse Jackson LetMyPeopleVote Feb 17 #77
Statement of President Obama and Mrs. Obama on the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson LetMyPeopleVote Feb 17 #79
Will never forget the media clips of Jesse the night of Nov. 2008 when the race was called for Barack Obama as President BumRushDaShow Feb 17 #80
I was all in for him in '84 Bluestocking Feb 17 #81
RIP Rev. Jackson GoodRaisin Feb 18 #82
He was a titan Ellen Forradalom Feb 18 #83
Rest in Power Jesse✊🏼 benfranklin1776 Feb 18 #84

BComplex

(9,836 posts)
9. He was a great man. I marched with him at UTx in 1970 or 1971 when he came down
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 07:33 AM
Feb 17

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)
10. Rest in Power Jesse.
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 07:59 AM
Feb 17


This one hurts. The greatest leaders of the justice movement are leaving the planet.

RIP

get the red out

(14,016 posts)
13. Great American
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 08:24 AM
Feb 17

Rev. Jackson showed what being a great American is supposed to be by opposing the Gov when it is wrong and demanding change.

FailureToCommunicate

(14,589 posts)
14. "The good Jesse" as our family called him. I never met him, but my father marched with
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 08:25 AM
Feb 17

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)

hamsterjill

(17,321 posts)
21. My comment was to honor Reverend Jackson's hard work
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 09:17 AM
Feb 17

I’d rather not concentrate on anyone but Rev. Jackson at this time.

BumRushDaShow

(168,069 posts)
24. Oh I know. Rev. Jackson's 1984 campaign was my first political candidate donation when he ran for President
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 09:26 AM
Feb 17

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.

calimary

(89,543 posts)
68. Good point.
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 04:27 PM
Feb 17

It’s up to all of us to make sure it’s not merely the end of an era. I’d guess he’d want the era NOT to end, EVER. I’d expect it to be the continuation, if not the beefing-up and reinvigorating of an era.

BumRushDaShow

(168,069 posts)
70. You have some activists/leaders from the "pre-internet" era
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 04:34 PM
Feb 17

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".

Flash953

(139 posts)
52. Both of these peoples actions will be remembered and they are both heroes.
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 12:40 PM
Feb 17

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)
57. No one has said otherwise.
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 01:07 PM
Feb 17

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.

NBachers

(19,348 posts)
20. I was a Teamster on strike - Jesse came and encouraged us. I voted for each of his Presidential campaigns.
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 09:17 AM
Feb 17

Goosebumps and tears for what Jesse Jackson represented.

JustAnotherGen

(37,893 posts)
25. I'm a kid from
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 09:29 AM
Feb 17

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)
30. That Sesame Street clip
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 09:41 AM
Feb 17

made me seriously choke up.

(and especially now watching it all being "ripped away" and no one cares)

FakeNoose

(41,103 posts)
31. Jesse Jackson, rest in peace knowing that you will be remembered and admired
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 09:42 AM
Feb 17

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.

twodogsbarking

(18,251 posts)
34. Not unlike other peace activists the government and media treated him unfairly. He kept on regardless.
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 09:57 AM
Feb 17

RIP and thank you kind sir.

peppertree

(23,229 posts)
72. Hear, hear
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 04:54 PM
Feb 17

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.

oasis

(53,505 posts)
43. Another historical great has passed.
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 11:05 AM
Feb 17

I was touched by the beautiful statement by the family.
Rest in peace Jesse.

generalbetrayus

(1,701 posts)
46. I so hate it so much it when one of our old friends in the DU world dies, yet Orange Julius Caesar lives on.
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 11:07 AM
Feb 17

Rest in Peace AND Power, Reverend Jackson.

k0rs

(151 posts)
48. I remember
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 11:37 AM
Feb 17

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.

Bayard

(29,211 posts)
50. You will be remembered as a leader in history books,
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 12:16 PM
Feb 17

And in our hearts.

Thank you for your service, Reverend.

ananda

(34,696 posts)
53. My mother was so please and excited to vote for him...
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 12:46 PM
Feb 17

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)

kimbutgar

(27,081 posts)
59. He was such a giant in our civil rights fight
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 01:28 PM
Feb 17

I was in the Chicago airport years ago and said to my husband that’s 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!

SergeStorms

(20,332 posts)
64. RIP, Reverend Jackson.
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 02:57 PM
Feb 17


You made a positive difference, and in my opinion that's a life well lived.

electric_blue68

(26,644 posts)
66. Rest in Power, and Peace Rev Jackson...
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 04:06 PM
Feb 17

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.

BumRushDaShow

(168,069 posts)
80. Will never forget the media clips of Jesse the night of Nov. 2008 when the race was called for Barack Obama as President
Tue Feb 17, 2026, 08:30 PM
Feb 17

Just found this more extended video clip of him that night -

Ellen Forradalom

(16,187 posts)
83. He was a titan
Wed Feb 18, 2026, 12:38 AM
Feb 18

in my hometown of Chicago and beyond. May we all remain a rainbow coalition of people united to serve humanity. Rest in power, reverend.

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