In brief
Rev. Jesse Jackson, the renowned civil rights leader and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, has been discharged from Northwestern Memorial Hospital after treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy. His son expressed gratitude for the support during this challenging time. Despite health challenges, Jackson's legacy continues to inspire as he remains a significant figure in civil rights activism.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Rev. Jesse Jackson has returned home after being treated for a rare neurological disorder at a Chicago hospital, as confirmed by his son, Yusef Jackson.
The 84-year-old civil rights icon was discharged from Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Monday. In 2013, Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but this diagnosis was updated last April to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), which shares several symptoms with Parkinson’s.
Yusef Jackson expressed deep gratitude towards the numerous supporters, friends, and the medical staff who provided care during his father's hospitalization.
We humbly ask for your continued prayers throughout this precious time,” he said.
Rev. Jackson, a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement and a close protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was hospitalized on November 14. His visitors included prominent figures like former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton.
Despite his diagnosis, Jackson has made multiple public appearances, including at significant events like the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Earlier this year, he stepped down from leadership at the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, an organization he founded in 1971, but he remained active until his recent health decline.
Currently, Jackson, who now relies on a wheelchair and struggles with speech and eye movement, is being cared for by his family, including his sons Illinois U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson and Jesse Jackson Jr., a former congressman seeking reelection.
