Jesse Jackson Dead At 84

Civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson died at the age of 84.

His death was announced by his family Tuesday. “Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” their statement read, according to NBC News.

“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.”

Jackson’s family said he died surrounded by loved ones.

Jackson’s cause of death was not disclosed.

Jackson was one of the most transformative figures in the American civil rights movement. His legacy includes his emphasis on grassroots activism and economic empowerment, encouraging communities to use voting, boycotts, and collective action as tools for change.

His influence helped widen the conversation about social justice and kept civil rights issues visible long after the height of the 1960s movement.

Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton paid tribute to Jackson by saying, “Our nation lost one of its greatest moral voices,” he said.

He went on to memorialize the Baptist minister by saying he was a man who “carried history in his footsteps and hope in his voice.”

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 19: Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson appear onstage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Delegates, politicians, and Democratic party supporters are in Chicago for the convention, concluding with current Vice President Kamala Harris accepting her party’s presidential nomination. The DNC takes place from August 19-22. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Jackson struggled with his health in his later years, and revealed his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis in 2017. He was hospitalized in November and suffered from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)for more than a decade before his death. (RELATED: Jesse Jackson Hospitalized Amid Health Struggles)

TALLAHASSEE, FL – 1984;: Presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson poses for a portrait in 1984 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Mickey Adair/Getty Images)

“Reverend Jackson stood wherever dignity was under attack, from apartheid abroad to injustice at home. His voice echoed in boardrooms and in jail cells. His presence shifted rooms. His faith never wavered,” Sharpton said, according to NBC News.

Jackson’s devotion to civil rights left an imprint on the nation’s political and social landscape that continues to resonate and forms an integral part of the legacy he leaves behind.