US rights advocate Jesse Jackson dies at 84
STEPHEN GBADAMOSI, IBADAN
Veteran civil rights activist and former US presidential candidate, Reverend Jesse Jackson, has died.
He was 84.
According to a statement released by his family, Jackson was said to have “died peacefully Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family.”
No official cause of death was disclosed, though he had previously been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The family described him as a lifelong advocate for justice and equality.
“His unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity,” the statement read, adding that he elevated “the voices of the voiceless” and left an indelible mark on history.
Born in 1941, Jackson rose to prominence as a young protégé of Martin Luther King Jr., becoming a key figure in the American civil rights movement.
Over the decades, he built a distinguished career blending activism, ministry, and politics.
Jackson twice sought the Democratic nomination for US Presidency in the 1980s, mounting historic campaigns that expanded voter participation and mobilised millions of Americans, particularly within Black communities.
Throughout his life, he remained a prominent voice on issues of racial justice, voting rights, economic equality, and international human rights.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, their children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef and Jacqueline; daughter, Ashley Jackson, and several grandchildren.
