Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon and two-time presidential candidate, dies at 84

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Feb. 17, 2026, 4:30 AM EST / Updated Feb. 17, 2026, 4:52 AM EST


The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the longtime civil rights activist, Baptist minister and two-time presidential candidate, died Tuesday, his family said. He was 84.

"Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said in a statement. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”

A cause of death was not immediately given. His family said he died peacefully surrounded by his loved ones.

He was admitted to a hospital in November and had been living for more than a decade with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), according to his Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which affects patients’ ability to walk and swallow and can lead to dangerous complications.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/rev-jesse-jackson-civil-rights-activist-dies-rcna42408

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Just breaking and heard on the radio.

This one is heart-breaking

[GReedDiamond]

1. RIP Rev. Jesse Jackson...

...may he Rest In Power.

[niyad]

2. Rest in power, brave warrior.

[nitpicked]

3. Link to AP (long obituary)

https://apnews.com/article/jesse-jackson-dies-43abb84d2ffc76d967f9a5596ebd0be1

[gademocrat7]

4. Rest In Peace, Rev. Jesse Jackson.

A man with a true servant’s heart.

[SunSeeker]

5. ...

[sinkingfeeling]

6. So sad.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. 1972 - Sesame Street

[StarryNite]

33. That's beautiful.

[BeyondGeography]

8. He was an absolute giant

[BComplex]

9. He was a great man. I marched with him at UTx in 1970 or 1971 when he came down

Last edited Tue Feb 17, 2026, 07:44 PM - Edit history (1)

for a Civil Rights march, before the Bush dynasty ruined Texas. I joined him when he cried as Barack Obama came out on stage after winning the presidency in the 2008 election. (The Rev. Jackson was on television, I was at home, but I cried with him over this long struggle nevertheless.)

[FalloutShelter]

10. Rest in Power Jesse.

This one hurts. The greatest leaders of the justice movement are leaving the planet.

RIP

[BlueKota]

11. May he rest in peace!

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Rest In Power, Rev. Jackson.

[get the red out]

13. Great American

Rev. Jackson showed what being a great American is supposed to be by opposing the Gov when it is wrong and demanding change.

[calimary]

67. Excellent post.

Excellent point!

[FailureToCommunicate]

14. "The good Jesse" as our family called him. I never met him, but my father marched with

Jesse and other ministers and his "Rainbow Coalition" people on the return to Edmund Pettius Bridge march and other civil rights events.

Of course we voted for Jesse for President in the 1984 and '88 primaries.

Rest In Peace Reverend Jesse.


(The "bad Jesse" was Jesse Helms at the time)

[Marthe48]

15. R.I.P.

One of my lifelong heroes.

[hamsterjill]

16. The end of an era.

Thank you, Rev. Jackson, for trying so hard. May you be at peace.

[BumRushDaShow]

17. His protege, Rev. Al Sharpton, will be keeping hope alive!

[hamsterjill]

21. My comment was to honor Reverend Jackson's hard work

I’d rather not concentrate on anyone but Rev. Jackson at this time.

[BumRushDaShow]

24. Oh I know. Rev. Jackson's 1984 campaign was my first political candidate donation when he ran for President

But I only remarked because of your "End of an era" comment and IMHO, there's never an "end", just a passing on to the next generation.

[hamsterjill]

27. Understood.

We can discuss Reverend Sharpton at another appropriate time.

[calimary]

68. Good point.

It’s up to all of us to make sure it’s not merely the end of an era. I’d guess he’d want the era NOT to end, EVER. I’d expect it to be the continuation, if not the beefing-up and reinvigorating of an era.

[BumRushDaShow]

70. You have some activists/leaders from the "pre-internet" era

who managed to "get media attention" through their actions and appearances, passing on.

Now what might be considered "the media" (print/broadcast/cable/satellite) is being supplemented with the "internet media" (streaming/social media/podcasts).

So the whole environment has changed (and splintered) and it will take some innovative future activists to harness that power to be able to become "the signal above the noise".

[calimary]

71. We definitely do need that!

ESPECIALLY now.

[Flash953]

52. Both of these peoples actions will be remembered and they are both heroes.

To me both Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are American Heroes. Both of them I would follow and support them with all of my energy and my heart. If this country ever gets it's act together again Historians will recognize the bad actors and the good. Oh yeah I didn't mention anything from a religious belief.

[hamsterjill]

57. No one has said otherwise.

I'm saying that my original comment was made for Reverend Jackson. He is the one who has died and I want to take the time to honor him, individually, without including others.

I haven't said anything about Reverend Sharpton because he's not the subject of the post today.

[chouchou]

18. A wonderful human being. Told the truth and was happy to tell it.

[QueerDuck]

19. Rest in Peace. 🌈

[NBachers]

20. I was a Teamster on strike - Jesse came and encouraged us. I voted for each of his Presidential campaigns.

Goosebumps and tears for what Jesse Jackson represented.

[Buddyzbuddy]

22. Rest in peace, Reverend, you've earned it.

[HipChick]

23. Rest In Paradise..

[JustAnotherGen]

25. I'm a kid from

The Sesame Street, Electric Company, Reading Rainbow, 321 Contact, etc. etc. Era.

Psst - BRDS -

I am somebody. This one hurts, but he was so sick. May he rest in power and have joy wherever his spirit has flown to.

[BumRushDaShow]

30. That Sesame Street clip

made me seriously choke up.

(and especially now watching it all being "ripped away" and no one cares)

[Groundhawg]

26. Was not a fan.

[CaptainTruth]

28. RIP Rev Jackson

A great person.

[underpants]

29. ❤️

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221026983

[FakeNoose]

31. Jesse Jackson, rest in peace knowing that you will be remembered and admired

Given the recent health problems, it's probably a relief for his loved ones, knowing that Rev. Jackson is finally free from pain and physical difficulties. Prayers for this decent and holy man, and for his loved ones.

[StarryNite]

32. RIP Rev Jackson

[twodogsbarking]

34. Not unlike other peace activists the government and media treated him unfairly. He kept on regardless.

RIP and thank you kind sir.

[JohnnyRingo]

35. Sadly....

Thank you for your service Reverend

[mountain grammy]

36. Keep Hope Alive!

Rest in Peace.. great man!

[peppertree]

72. Hear, hear

I'll never forget the last speech I saw of his - at the 2000 Democratic Convention.

When I heard those thunderous "MOAH, with GOAH!"s, I was convinced we had it in the bag.

But the Bush mafia had the last word.

[2naSalit]

37. ...

[popsdenver]

38. THIS NEWS

Should dominate the opening page of DU...................

[Clouds Passing]

39. NO! Jesse

We lost a real leader

[fantase56]

40. ...

[sheshe2]

41. RIP Rev. Jesse Jackson.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

42. Miss you Jesse

RIP

[oasis]

43. Another historical great has passed.

I was touched by the beautiful statement by the family.
Rest in peace Jesse.

[Wild blueberry]

44. Genuine servant leader

Thank you, Rev. Jesse Jackson.

[JoseBalow]

45. Adios

[generalbetrayus]

46. I so hate it so much it when one of our old friends in the DU world dies, yet Orange Julius Caesar lives on.

Rest in Peace AND Power, Reverend Jackson.

[c-rational]

47. RIP Jesse Jackson. Thank you for alll you have done for us!

[k0rs]

48. I remember

My mother, who was an old school rock-ribbed Goldwater Republican, told me she wanted to vote for Jesse. Oh my. The man had appeal. I nearly had a heart attack. Thank you Jesse, you changed my family for the better.

[spudspud]

49. RIP Rev. Jackson.

[Bayard]

50. You will be remembered as a leader in history books,

And in our hearts.

Thank you for your service, Reverend.

[Upthevibe]

51. ...............

...........R.I.P., Jesse Jackson............

[ananda]

53. My mother was so please and excited to vote for him...

in the presidential primary.

I remember that clearly.

He was also the only one to seem to care about
Florida 2000. He led a march in Miami as a
protest.

[bdamomma]

55. Oh, what

a loss and a great man, RIP Reverend Jackson. You leave a legacy.

[Initech]

56. RIP! Legend.

[Scott Alan Swaggerty]

58. ...

[kimbutgar]

59. He was such a giant in our civil rights fight

I was in the Chicago airport years ago and said to my husband that’s Jesse Jackson. He heard me and came up and shook our hands. And we had a nice conversation. I think I have a photo of him and us somewhere in my photo albums. We were going to a world war 2 reunion of men who served with my Father. I told him about my Dads group the Prometheans, that they were a specialized training program for black men who scored high on tests. All lot of those men became lawyers, doctors, public servants and small business owners. When we got to the reunion and I told group they were so excited!

[electric_blue68]

78. That's a great story!

[MustLoveBeagles]

60. RIP 😔

[AllaN01Bear]

61. ""

[BigDemVoter]

62. I am just seeing this. . . .

[KT2000]

63. He knew how to be a leader

A life well lived. A good man. RIP

[SergeStorms]

64. RIP, Reverend Jackson.

You made a positive difference, and in my opinion that's a life well lived.

[orleans]

65. ...

[electric_blue68]

66. Rest in Power, and Peace Rev Jackson...

Last edited Tue Feb 17, 2026, 08:57 PM - Edit history (2)

Just saw this.
Sigh. Staunch fighter for justice!

Eta: saw him (and voted for him) in my then nearby neighborhood when he ran for President. And "Little Steven"/Steve Van Zant of the E Street Band introduced him.

[dawn5651]

69. rest in peace rev. jackson.

[BHDem53]

73. Rest easy, Jesse.

[turbinetree]

74. A True Hero................is so many ways.............

[FemDemERA]

75. RIP...

[mzmolly]

76. My very first primary vote went to Jesse.

He was an inspiration.

Rest in power good soul.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

77. Statement of President Clinton and Secretary Clinton on the passing of Jesse Jackson

Link to tweet

[LetMyPeopleVote]

79. Statement of President Obama and Mrs. Obama on the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson

Link to tweet

[BumRushDaShow]

80. Will never forget the media clips of Jesse the night of Nov. 2008 when the race was called for Barack Obama as President

Just found this more extended video clip of him that night -

[Bluestocking]

81. I was all in for him in '84

until his hymietown comment. I went from excitement to disappointment.

[GoodRaisin]

82. RIP Rev. Jackson

[Ellen Forradalom]

83. He was a titan

in my hometown of Chicago and beyond. May we all remain a rainbow coalition of people united to serve humanity. Rest in power, reverend.

[benfranklin1776]

84. Rest in Power Jesse✊🏼

🕯️💙