Rev. Jesse Jackson Hospitalized Amid Health Struggles, Family Requests Prayers

CHICAGO, Ill. — Rev. Jesse Jackson, the renowned civil rights leader, is currently hospitalized in Chicago. This information comes from a source who spoke to NBC Chicago under the condition of anonymity.

Jackson is receiving care for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative disease. According to a statement from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the organization he founded, Jackson has been managing this condition for over a decade. Initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his diagnosis was updated last April to include PSP. Rainbow PUSH noted that Jackson’s family values the prayers and support during this time.

The 84-year-old has had a profound impact on civil rights in the United States. He worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition to further social change from its Chicago headquarters. He studied at the Chicago Theological Seminary and has been a prominent figure in the religious and political spheres in Chicago.

Jackson has made several presidential bids, notably in the 1984 and 1988 elections, where he won 11 primaries before conceding the nomination to Michael Dukakis. Throughout his career, he advocated for Black students’ educational opportunities and pushed for reforms across the nation.

His activism also includes efforts for Palestinian rights and opposition to apartheid in South Africa, notably advocating for Nelson Mandela’s release in the 1980s. In 2000, Jackson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Bill Clinton, the country’s highest civilian honor.

Despite facing health challenges, including a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2017, Jackson remained committed to civil rights. He worked towards legislation for voting rights and criminal justice reform, especially after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In 2023, he stepped down from leading Rainbow PUSH and has since kept a lower public profile.