Jesse Jackson (1941–2026) was a prominent American civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and influential political figure. He marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., helped lead major civil‑rights initiatives, founded Operation PUSH and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and ran groundbreaking presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 that expanded political participation among underrepresented groups.

Recent news: Jesse Jackson passed away on February 17, 2026, at the age of 84. Reports note he died peacefully surrounded by his family, after several years of declining health.