Chicago: Reverend Jesse Jackson, the legendary American human rights activist, passed away yesterday at the age of 84. The family of Reverend Jesse Jackson said in a statement that Jackson passed away peacefully early yesterday morning at his home in Chicago, Illinois, surrounded by family members. They described Jackson as a service leader, not only to his family but also to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the marginalized around the world.
According to Thai News Agency, Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina, amidst racial segregation. He joined the civil rights movement with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s and became a key leader. He was not just a politician or civil rights activist, but a symbol of hope for Black people and marginalized groups in America. Jackson witnessed the historic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. He continued the movement for economic equality through Operation PUSH and later founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition to unite people of all races and religions.
Jackson ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988. Although he didn't win, he forever changed American politics because he proved that a Black person could be a worthy contender for the nation's highest office. He also paved the way for the victories of Barack Obama and Kamala Harris. Obama himself once said that without Jesse Jackson, he might not be who he is today.
In his later years, Jesse Jackson continued to advocate for voting rights and social justice, despite suffering from Parkinson's disease and being hospitalized late last year when his condition worsened.