In brief
Rev. Jesse Jackson, the iconic civil rights leader and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, has been released from Northwestern Memorial Hospital following treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy. His family has thanked supporters for their prayers and assistance during this challenging time. Jackson's health has been a concern since his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 2013, and he now requires round-the-clock care at home. His sons are actively involved in his care as he navigates this difficult chapter in his life.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Rev. Jesse Jackson has been released from a Chicago hospital where he was treated for a rare neurological disorder, his son said Tuesday.
The 84-year-old civil rights leader was discharged Monday from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to Yusef Jackson, his son and family spokesperson.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013, Jackson's condition was recently updated to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a serious neurodegenerative disorder that shares symptoms with Parkinson's.
Yusef Jackson expressed deep gratitude towards “the countless friends and supporters who have reached out, visited and prayed for our father,” along with the medical staff at the hospital.
“We humbly ask for your continued prayers throughout this precious time,” he added.
A protégé of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson was hospitalized on November 14. Notable visitors during his hospital stay included former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, alongside civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton and Judge Greg Mathis.
After announcing his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2017, Jackson remained active in public life, making notable appearances including at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. However, he stepped down as leader of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition in 2023.
His family reported that Jackson now uses a wheelchair and faces challenges with speech and eye movement. His sons, including U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson and Jesse Jackson Jr., are assisting in his care.
