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The Digest:

Reverend Jesse Jackson, one of the foremost leaders of the American civil rights movement and a close ally of Martin Luther King Jr., has died at the age of 84. His family announced he passed peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday morning, surrounded by loved ones. Jackson was on the frontlines of the 1960s civil rights struggle, present when King was assassinated in Memphis in 1968. He later became a two-time candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, founding the Rainbow PUSH Coalition to continue advocacy for justice and equality. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017, he was hospitalised in November 2025 with a degenerative condition. His family described him as "a tireless change agent" who "elevated the voices of the voiceless" and "left an indelible mark on history."

Key Points:
  • Jackson's passing marks the loss of a towering figure who bridged the civil rights era and modern political advocacy.
  • His legacy of non-violent activism and voter mobilisation continues to inspire movements worldwide.
  • The civil rights community loses a patriarch, while his Rainbow PUSH Coalition carries forward his work.
  • This signals the end of an era as the last generation of King's lieutenants passes.
  • The timing, after his recent hospitalisation, brings closure to a long public journey.

Jackson leaves behind a legacy of relentless advocacy for justice, from the civil rights trenches to presidential campaigns, inspiring generations of activists.

Sources: TheCable, Rainbow PUSH Coalition Statement