Civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson has been hospitalized in Chicago as he manages a serious neurodegenerative illness.
Jackson’s organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, announced that the 84-year-old is under observation for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare brain disorder he has lived with for over ten years. The family has requested prayers and support during this time. Jackson was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but medical experts confirmed PSP in April 2024. The condition affects balance, movement, and cognitive functions, and is often mistaken for Parkinson’s due to overlapping symptoms. PSP is more common in men and generally affects individuals over 60.
Born in 1941, Jackson rose to prominence as a protege of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. He left the Chicago Theological Seminary to actively participate in the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for racial equality and social justice.
In 1996, he founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, combining two of his previous organizations: People United to Serve Humanity (PUSH), established in 1971, and the Rainbow Coalition, formed in 1984. The organization promotes social change and equal opportunities. Jackson stepped down as president in 2023, handing leadership to a new generation of activists.
Throughout his career, Jackson received numerous awards for his human rights work. In 2000, former President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. He also holds more than 40 honorary doctorates recognizing his decades-long contribution to civil rights.
Jackson ran for the presidency twice, in 1984 and 1988, and his campaigns helped register over three million new voters, reshaping political engagement for African Americans. In the 1990s, he served as a shadow senator for Washington, D.C., advocating for full statehood for the U.S. capital.
While details of his treatment remain private, supporters nationwide have shared messages of encouragement, honoring Jackson’s enduring commitment to justice, equality, and activism.
References:
CNN – “Jesse Jackson hospitalized, continues to battle rare brain disorder” (Nov. 13, 2025)
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/13/us/jesse-jackson-hospitalized-psp/index.html
