From Selma to service: Remembering Jesse Jackson’s lifelong fight for justice

The Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in American history, has died at age 84, his family announced on Feb. 17. Jackson passed away peacefully at his home in Chicago, surrounded by loved ones, closing a remarkable chapter in the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.

Born on October 8, 1941, in segregated Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson rose from humble beginnings to become a towering figure in the civil rights movement. As a young organizer, he joined marches and protests alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., including Selma to Montgomery and other pivotal actions that helped transform the United States.

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Following King’s assassination in 1968, Jackson expanded his influence, founding Operation PUSH and later the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, organizations that championed economic and social justice, voter registration, and corporate diversity. He infused the civil rights struggle with a focus on economic opportunity as well as racial equality according to The Guardian.

Jackson’s impact extended into national politics. In the 1980s, he ran for the Democratic presidential nomination twice, breaking racial barriers and energizing voters across the country. His campaigns brought issues of inequality and representation to the forefront of American political debate and paved the way for future Black leaders in national office.

Known for his electrifying oratory and steadfast optimism, Jackson popularized the slogan “Keep Hope Alive,” a message that became a rallying cry for civil rights activists across generations. He also played roles in diplomatic negotiations abroad, including securing the release of American citizens held overseas.

In later years, Jackson battled health challenges including Parkinson’s disease and a rare neurological disorder called progressive supranuclear palsy, but he continued to be a visible advocate for racial justice and human rights well into the era of Black Lives Matter according to this TIME article.

Leaders from across the political spectrum paid tribute to Jackson’s lifelong commitment to equality, calling him a moral voice and transformational figure whose work helped shape public policy and empower marginalized communities.

A longtime supporter and friend of Jackson, attorney Richard Boykin, who is running for Congress in the 7^th, shared, “I had the privilege of working with Rev. Jesse Jackson on many initiatives to help people. His annual visit to the Cook County Department of Corrections, feeding the hungry, fighting for policies to end homelessness and registering people to vote. He was a passionate and fierce fighter for justice. I am proud to have known him. He was a leader and trailblazer. I will never forget the marches for justice and his desire to improve lives. May God comfort his family at this difficult time. The memory of Rev. Jackson will live on forever. As Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, and I have kept the faith. Rest my brother in the hands of the almighty! A lunta continua!”

His passing marks the end of an era in American activism, but his legacy of hope, resilience and unyielding pursuit of justice lives on.

Sources:

https://www.usatoday.com/live-story/news/nation/2026/02/17/jesse-jackson-dies-live-updates/88715148007/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/rev-jesse-jackson-civil-rights-activist-dies-rcna42408

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/17/jesse-jackson-quotes-legacy/