The Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. died Tuesday, February 17, 2026,

The Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., the iconic civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate, died today, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at his home surrounded by family. He was 84 years old at the time of his passing.

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Jackson had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neuromuscular disease similar to Parkinson’s, which he was originally diagnosed with in 2017 before it was updated to PSP in April 2024.

As a Baptist minister and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, his legacy includes decades of activism alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., advocating for voting rights, and serving as a global voice for equality.