Jackson has been managing a neurogenerative disease for over a decade.
Civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson is reportedly receiving a form of life support in a Chicago hospital, according to multiple outlets citing sources close to the family. Jackson is being medicated to keep his blood pressure stable after being diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy , CBS News reported, adding that his condition is weakening as friends and family travel to Chicago to join him.
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition , the organization Jackson founded that is dedicated to social justice, said in a press release last week that he has been managing PSP, a rare neurological condition, for over a decade. Newsweek has reached out to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition via email on Sunday for more information. Why It Matters Jackson, a “protégé” of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the past six decades. His condition brings renewed attention to his long-standing advocacy for racial and economic justice, and the debilitating effects of PSP, which affects movement, balance, and eye motion. What To Know Jackson, 84, was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital last week, following complications related to PSP. The RPC confirmed his hospitalization in a statement on November 12, but did not share further medical details, instead encouraging the community to offer prayers and support. Family sources told CNN Sunday that Jackson was on a form of life support to stabilize his blood pressure and had brief moments of alertness after a drop in blood pressure the previous night. On Thursday, Jackson’s son, Jesse Jackson Jr., said on his radio show that there had been “significant improvement” in the civil rights leader’s condition under medical care. He has been kept on medications for several days to manage his condition, while doctors now attempt to reduce reliance on such measures. Jackson was first diagnosed with what was thought to be Parkinson’s disease in 2017, but it was later confirmed as PSP, a condition with no cure that typically leads to severe disability within three to five years, according to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The Reverend Jesse Jackson is on March 9 in Selma, Alabama. What People Are Saying Santita Jackson, Reverend Jackson’s daughter, told ABC News last week: “Tough times never last, but tough people do. And, with God on your side, you are a majority. This is not a tragic moment. This is a triumphant moment… As my mother said, ‘We both started at less than zero and now he is a hero to so many.'” Jesse Jackson Jr., Reverend Jackson’s son, said on his radio show last week: “On behalf of the Jackson family, we cannot extend enough of our gratitude for those of you who have expressed your thoughts and prayer over the last 24 hours. Dad has lived a number of years past the life expectancy of associated with this particular disease and has put up and continues to put up a valiant struggle against this particular form of unique Parkinson’s, for which there is no cure.” What Happens Next? There is no timeline for Jackson’s potential release as his prognosis remains uncertain. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition, under interim leadership, continues its programming and activism, vowing to honor Jackson’s legacy and keep the community informed through official releases. Update 11/16/25, 6:28 p.m. ET This story has been updated with more information.
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