Jesse Jackson died early Tuesday morning following a lengthy illness, his family announced. He was 84.
Jackson was hospitalized on Nov. 12 following a battle with the progressive neuromuscular disease progressive supranuclear palsy, a condition similar to Parkinson’s disease.
Jackson called it a “physical challenge” but continued his advocacy in the public domain.
His father, Noah Lewis Robinson Sr, also had Parkinson’s and died of the disease in 1997 at the age of 88.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Civil Rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Honorable Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.,” according to a statement from the organization on Instagram.
“He died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family.”
