Jesse Jackson, the longtime civil rights advocate and Baptist minister who mounted historic campaigns for the U.S. presidency, has died at the age of 84. His family confirmed that he passed away Tuesday morning. He is survived by his wife, six children, and several grandchildren.

In a public statement, the family described Jackson as a devoted leader whose work extended beyond his household to marginalized communities across the nation and around the world. They encouraged supporters to continue advancing the principles of justice and equality that defined his life.

Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson rose from modest beginnings to become a national figure in American politics and social activism. He earned a sociology degree from the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina in 1964 and later pursued theological studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary.

Jackson became active in the civil rights movement during the 1960s after meeting Martin Luther King Jr., who had launched efforts in Chicago through the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Although their relationship experienced tensions at times, the two reconciled before King’s assassination in Memphis in 1968. Jackson was present at the Lorraine Motel on the day King was killed.

Ordained as a Baptist minister, Jackson later established his own advocacy organizations. In 1971, he founded People United to Save Humanity. He went on to create the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984, which later merged with PUSH to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. He also started the Wall Street Project, aimed at expanding economic opportunities for minorities.

Jackson made history in 1984 and again in 1988 when he sought the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. While he did not secure the nomination, both campaigns attracted significant national support and marked a turning point in American politics, broadening representation in presidential contests.

Throughout his life, Jackson faced both acclaim and controversy. In 2001, he publicly acknowledged fathering a child outside of marriage and accepted responsibility for his actions. Years later, his son, Jesse Jackson Jr., encountered legal troubles connected to campaign finances.

In 2017, Jackson revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. More recently, he was also diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a rare neurological condition that affects movement and speech. As his health declined, he reduced his public engagements but remained a respected presence in political circles. In 2024, he appeared as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where he was warmly received by attendees.

Jackson’s legacy spans decades of activism, political engagement, and advocacy for civil rights, leaving a lasting imprint on American public life.