The family of Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. has announced with profound sorrow the passing of the longtime civil rights leader and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. In a heartfelt statement, the Jackson family confirmed that Reverend Jackson died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by those he loved most.
“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.,” the statement read. “He died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family.”
For decades, Reverend Jackson stood as one of the most recognizable and enduring voices in the struggle for justice, equality, and human rights. His family emphasized that his life’s work helped shape a global movement rooted in freedom, dignity, and opportunity for all. From his early days in the Civil Rights Movement to his groundbreaking presidential campaigns in the 1980s, Jackson consistently sought to elevate those whose voices had long been ignored.
A tireless change agent, he mobilized millions of Americans to register to vote and to participate in the democratic process. His campaigns for the presidency broke barriers and expanded the national political conversation, creating new pathways for minority representation and civic engagement. Through organizing, preaching, public speaking, and policy advocacy, Jackson left an indelible mark on American political and social history.
The family described him not only as a global figure, but as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Reverend Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; their children — Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, and Jacqueline; daughter Ashley Jackson; and his beloved grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Burns Jackson; his father, Noah Louis Robinson; and his stepfather, Charles Henry Jackson.
In a deeply personal tribute, the Jackson children reflected on the unique experience of sharing their father with the world.
“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” they said. “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 honour his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”
Those values — justice, equality, love, and nonviolent change — defined Jackson’s public life. Whether advocating for economic equity, voting rights, labor rights, or international human rights, he consistently framed his mission around expanding opportunity and protecting human dignity.
Public observances honoring Reverend Jackson’s life will be held in Chicago, the city long associated with his ministry and activism. Final arrangements for his celebration of life services, including details about all public events, will be released by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in the coming days.
As tributes pour in from leaders, activists, faith communities, and citizens around the world, the Jackson family’s message remains clear: while the man has passed, the movement he helped build must endure. They are calling on supporters not only to remember him, but to carry forward the principles that guided his life’s work — ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire generations to come.
