CHICAGO, IL – With profound sadness, the family of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., an iconic figure in the fight for civil rights, international justice, and human dignity, announces his passing. Reverend Jackson, the esteemed founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, transitioned peacefully on late Monday night, February 16, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy that has forever redefined the moral and political fabric of our nation and the world.
For more than six decades, Reverend Jackson dedicated his life to advancing equality, dismantling systems of oppression, and amplifying the voices of the underserved. Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jesse Jackson graduated from the public schools in Greenville and then enrolled in the University of Illinois on a football scholarship.
He later transferred to North Carolina A&T State University and graduated in 1964. He began his theological studies at Chicago Theological Seminary. However, he deferred his studies when he began working full-time in the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was ordained on June 30, 1968, by Rev. Clay Evans and earned his Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2000.
From marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a mentor and friend, Reverend Jackson continued his fight during the Civil Rights Movement to leading nationwide voter registration campaigns, notably during his presidential runs in 1984 and 1988—registering millions of new voters. Reverend Jackson remained steadfast in his mission to pave the way for the next generation of freedom fighters. He was a man of the people, welcomed in even the most rural areas, whether serving the impoverished or bringing his masterful guidance to hostage negotiations with world leaders.
His tireless advocacy extended beyond American soil, championing human rights struggles on a global scale. Reverend Jackson’s fearless leadership brought attention to issues of racial discrimination, economic and gender inequality, social injustice, healthcare, education, and peace-building—earning him recognition as a true humanitarian and world leader.
Beyond his public achievements, Reverend Jackson will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and spiritual guide. To his family, he was a source of unwavering love and faith. To countless others, he was a mentor, a voice for the voiceless, and a symbol of resilience. Reverend Jackson’s passing marks the end of an era, but his vision of justice, equality, and unity will live on through the countless lives he touched.
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.
Funeral arrangements and details for public memorial services will be shared in the coming days.
Rev. Al Sharpton issued the following statement:
“Today, I lost the man who first called me into purpose when I was just twelve years old. And our nation lost one of its greatest moral voices. The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson was not simply a civil rights leader; he was a movement unto himself. He carried history in his footsteps and hope in his voice. One of the greatest honors of my life was learning at his side. He reminded me that faith without action is just noise. He taught me that protest must have purpose, that faith must have feet, and that justice is not seasonal, it is daily work.
“In 1969, when I was still a teenager trying to find my place in this struggle, Rev. Jackson appointed me youth director of the Brooklyn branch of Operation Breadbasket, the economic arm of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He trusted me with responsibility and saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself. That is the measure of a true mentor: they do not just teach you; they name you.
“He later named the headquarters of National Action Network “The House of Justice,” a reminder that movements must be anchored in moral purpose. Through Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition, he expanded the political imagination of this nation. He ran for President not because it was easy, but because he believed America could be better than its history. In doing so, he opened doors that many of us, me included, who followed in his footsteps and ran for President.
“But to me, he was more than a public figure. He was Godfather to my two daughters. He prayed over them as infants. He spoke life into them as young girls. We stood in his home not as a headline, but as family. He taught them, and me, that trying is as important as triumph. That you do not wait for the dream to come true; you work to make it real. Because of him, I learned that leadership is not about being seen, it is about seeing others. Because of him, I learned that our lives mean the most when they are spent widening the circle of who belongs.
“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…”
