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Atlanta and the nation are paying tributes to the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., the charismatic civil rights champion, two-time presidential candidate and founder of the Rainbow PUSH advocacy coalition. Jackson passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at his home in Chicago. He was 84. Jackson’s family confirmed his death in a statement, saying that he “died peacefully” but did not give a cause.
Jackson was hospitalized in November for treatment of a severe neurodegenerative condition, progressive supranuclear palsy, according to the Rainbow PUSH. Jackson had announced in 2017 that he had Parkinson’s disease.
For decades, Jackson stood at the forefront of America’s fight for justice, economic equity and political empowerment. Jackson’s bond with Atlanta was both historic and personal. As a young organizer, he worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership conference, rising as one of the most visible voices of the modern Civil Rights Movement.
Jackson was with King in Memphis,Tennessee in 1968 when King was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. They were in the city to support a strike by Black sanitation workers who were protesting low wages and dangerous working conditions after two workers were crushed to death by a faulty truck. King delivered his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech in Memphis the day before he was assassinated.
Jackson, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, rose to national prominence, building on the mantle of King as a freedom fighter and ultimately helping to lay the groundwork for the historic 2008 election of Barack Obama, the nation’s first Black President.
Through the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Jackson championed voter registration drives, corporate accountability campaigns and economic justice initiatives.
On Common Ground News salutes the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. Rest in peace for a job well done.
Rev. Jesse Jackson, a powerful
champion of liberty and justice
The Urban League of Greater Atlanta offers our deep condolences to the family of civil rights icon Jesse Jackson on his passing today, February 17, 2026. One of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s acolyte’s, Rev. Jackson’s belief in social justice shaped his lifetime of public service and contribution. He built a “rainbow” coalition of multiracial social activists and justice warriors. And with his 1980s runs for president, he blazed a trail that ultimately led to the election of Barack Obama to the nation’s highest political office.
For more than half a century, Rev. Jackson and his family dedicated their time and treasure to the quest for civil rights and economic justice for everyone. He kept Dr. King’s call for voting rights, economic empowerment, and world peace at the heart of his transformative national and international crusade.
Rev. Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH coalition will release details of the service and programs in the days ahead. Our hearts are with them as they mourn his loss and celebrate his accomplishments with people around the world whose lives Rev. Jackson touched.
The NCNW family extends our prayers, love, and solidarity to the family of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., an iconic figure in the ongoing struggle for justice, equality, and human dignity, as we mourn the loss of a civil rights giant. For over six decades, Rev. Jackson has been at the forefront of the civil and human rights movement, beginning with his early work alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and continuing his lifelong commitment to economic empowerment, political participation, and peace. His courage and conviction have inspired generations to speak out and take action.
We join communities across the nation and around the world in praying for comfort during this difficult time. We are reminded that Rev. Jackson’s spirit—rooted in faith, hope, and love—continues to illuminate the path toward freedom and equality for all. We honor him, we thank him, and we are dedicated to continuing his important work.
SCLC mourns the loss of civil rights legend Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr
Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., Chairman of the Board of SCLC
“Rev. Jesse Jackson was not only a fellow laborer in the Movement, he was my friend. Jesse impacted the world in so many ways, as a civil rights leader, a fearless advocate for economic justice, a founder of Rainbow PUSH, and a political trailblazer who brought our issues to the national stage. But what sticks out to me is that he embodied hope. You cannot become better until you have hope, and Jesse, in so many ways, gave all of us the hope of what was possible. Like so many of us, we started as young people and dedicated our lives to building the Beloved Community.”
DeMark Liggins, Sr., President/CEO of SCLC
“SCLC is proud to have been part of Rev. Jackson’s early advocacy with Dr. King and SCLC, especially through Operation Breadbasket. He carried that same courage forward through Rainbow PUSH. I still remember being a kid and being inspired to “Keep Hope Alive!” and being uplifted because “I am Somebody”.