Civil Rights Icon Jesse Jackson Dies at 84

Daughter Santita Jackson says her father was willing to put his life on the line for his beliefs during his 1984 presidential run.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a prominent civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate, has died at the age of 84. His daughter Santita Jackson said he was "the most threatened candidate in history" during his 1984 presidential campaign, and was willing to put his life on the line for his beliefs. Jackson was a protege of Martin Luther King Jr. and led the civil rights movement for decades, advocating for the poor and underrepresented on issues like voting rights, jobs, education, and healthcare.

Why it matters

Jesse Jackson was a towering figure in the civil rights movement, continuing the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and using his platform to fight for racial justice, economic equality, and opportunity for marginalized communities. His presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 helped elevate the concerns of Black Americans and other underrepresented groups on the national stage.

The details

Jackson achieved victories with world leaders and through his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, he helped pressure executives to make America a more open and equitable society. He was also a major force protesting against racial injustice in the era of Black Lives Matter, and in 2024 appeared at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to show support for a resolution backing a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

  • Jesse Jackson died on Tuesday, February 18, 2026 at the age of 84.
  • Jackson ran for president in 1984, a campaign his daughter Santita described as the "most threatened" in history.

The players

Jesse Jackson

A prominent civil rights leader, minister, and two-time presidential candidate who was a protege of Martin Luther King Jr. and led the civil rights movement for decades.

Santita Jackson

The daughter of Jesse Jackson who said her father was willing to put his life on the line for his beliefs during his 1984 presidential campaign.

Martin Luther King Jr.

The legendary civil rights leader who mentored Jesse Jackson and whose work Jackson continued for decades.

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What they’re saying

“He was the most threatened candidate in history.”

— Santita Jackson, Daughter of Jesse Jackson (CUOMO)

“What we are looking at with Reverend Jackson, someone who was an unreconstructed populist who ran as a Black man. There were so many things, so many rules he was breaking. But, he was willing to break them to get us into a new America.”

— Santita Jackson, Daughter of Jesse Jackson (CUOMO)

“He used that … fuel to embrace Black people, white people, poor Latinos and Asian folks. The kind of stature was manifest in him … but it was the moral, political and spiritual stature that matched that embodiment. When he hit you with all of that six-foot-four power and masculinity, he was the embodiment of those ideals that had been denied and that no one in any way could reject.”

— Michael Eric Dyson, Author (NewsNationNow.com)

What’s next

Jesse Jackson's family and supporters are expected to hold memorial services and events to honor his legacy in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Jesse Jackson's life and work left an indelible mark on the civil rights movement and the fight for racial and economic justice in America. His willingness to put his life on the line for his beliefs, and his ability to unite people of all backgrounds around a vision of a more equitable society, cemented his status as one of the most important figures of the 20th century.