US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson dies aged 84
Reverend Jesse Jackson, the Baptist minister and civil rights activist, has died at the age of 84, his family has said.
In a statement, his family said: ‘Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.
‘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.’
The two-time Presidential candidate died surrounded by loved ones after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2017.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Jusef, and Jacqueline, along with multiple grandchildren.
Jesse, originally from Greenville, South Carolina, began his political career working alongside Dr Martin Luther King Jr.’s circle.
He was with Dr King when he was assassinated in 1968, and later led student sit-ins to push for racial equality.
He also formed the PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) and the Rainbow Coalition, which works to engage voters and push for social justice.
In 1984 and 1988, he ran for President, ultimately losing the nomination after the primaries.
He remained involved in politics, pushing for the release of foreign nationals in Kuwait in the early 1990s and being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the year 2000.
In recent years, he’s been outspoken against current President Donald Trump, saying in 2020 that Americans ‘deserve better’.
‘You can’t fight fire with fire and expect to put it out,’ Jackson said of Trump in 2019.
In 2016, Jackson spoke out as a minister about Trump’s comments on minority voters.
‘Trump says you must be able to speak the language of English, be qualified and have a job skill. Jesus would not qualify to come to Trump’s country. Trump would not qualify to get into Jesus’ kingdom,’ he said.
Until his death, he fought for social justice and encouraged voter registration, leaving a lasting legacy in the United States.
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