02/17/2026
Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil rights icon and two-time presidential candidate, has died at 84.
Known for his powerful oratory and his vision of a “Rainbow Coalition” uniting the poor and marginalized, Jackson was a prominent leader in the civil rights movement alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
During his 1984 presidential campaign, Jackson launched the National Rainbow Coalition to challenge President Ronald Reagan’s policies and advocate for social programs, voting rights, and affirmative action.
The NAACP said in a statement, “Reverend Jesse Jackson was not only a civil rights icon — he was family to the NAACP. His work advanced Black America at every turn. He challenged this nation to live up to its highest ideals, and he reminded our movement that hope is both a strategy and a responsibility. His historic run for president inspired millions and brought race to the forefront of American politics.”
In a statement, his family said that Mr. Jackson “died peacefully,” but did not give a cause. He will be so missed.
📷: Getty Images
