Rev. Jesse Jackson Hospitalized, Receives Life Support Amid Health Crisis

CHICAGO, Ill. — Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson is currently hospitalized and receiving life support to stabilize his blood pressure, a source close to his family informed CNN on Sunday. Jackson, 84, has been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and has been under medical observation for his condition.

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition announced Wednesday that Jackson’s health has fluctuated, but he has shown brief signs of responsiveness. The family source noted that after a significant drop in blood pressure on Saturday night, medical staff responded quickly to stabilize him.

Rev. Jackson was previously diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease before his PSP diagnosis was confirmed last April. PSP affects movement, balance, and eye function and typically leads to severe disability within three to five years.

His son, Jesse Jackson Jr., shared on his radio show that there had been “significant improvement” in Jackson’s condition last week. Jackson has bravely managed his neurodegenerative illness for over a decade.

Jackson gained national prominence in the 1960s as a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and has spent his life advocating for civil rights. He founded Operation PUSH in 1971 to improve the economic conditions of Black communities and later created the National Rainbow Coalition.

In a statement, CurePSP, a nonprofit organization focused on awareness and research for PSP, expressed its support for Jackson and highlighted the urgent need for greater awareness about the disease. They emphasized that Jackson’s visibility might help others facing similar challenges.

As Jackson continues his fight, family and friends urge the public to keep him in their thoughts and prayers.