Rev. Jesse Jackson, a prominent civil rights activist and former U.S. presidential candidate, was released from a Chicago hospital on Monday following 12 days of treatment for a rare brain disorder. According to his son and family spokesperson Yusef Jackson, the 84-year-old minister and social activist was admitted earlier this month for observation of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative condition that affects balance, movement, and eye motion. Jackson’s family expressed gratitude for the widespread support and medical care provided during his hospital stay, calling for continued prayers for his recovery.
The Baptist minister, known for his role in the Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965 and his leadership in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013. However, in April 2025, the diagnosis was reclassified as PSP, a condition for which there is currently no cure. Jackson’s family noted that after a battery of tests, his physicians identified the issue as Parkinson’s disease, a condition that he described as one that “bested my father” in a 2017 statement. He later acknowledged the emotional difficulty of confronting the reality of his illness.
Jackson, who has faced numerous health challenges in recent years, including gallbladder surgery and hospitalization due to COVID-19, was hospitalized again in Washington, D.C., in 2021 after falling and hitting his head while assisting Howard University students during a protest over campus living conditions. These health issues have underscored the toll of aging on a figure who has been a cornerstone of American civil rights activism since the 1960s. Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, Jackson became one of the most prominent heirs to the civil rights movement, maintaining a legacy of activism and public service.
His foundation, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, was established in 1996 by merging Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition, two organizations he had previously founded. The coalition continues to advocate for social justice, racial equality, and political representation, reflecting Jackson’s enduring commitment to progressive causes. While his health remains a topic of concern, his legacy as a leader in the civil rights movement and a key figure in American political history remains intact. His family has reiterated their appreciation for the outpouring of support and prayers received during his hospitalization, signaling a time of both gratitude and resilience.