Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Leader Who Sought the Presidency, Dies at 84

February 17, 2026 at 04:47AM

Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Leader Who Sought the Presidency, Dies at 84

Jesse Jackson, a civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate, has died at 84. Known for his impassioned oratory and leadership of a “rainbow coalition” of diverse, working-class and poor Americans, he pursued a mission to transform the mind of America and advance social and political change.