Rev. Jesse Jackson Released from Hospital After Brain Disorder Treatment

Prominent civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson has been discharged from Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after receiving treatment for over 12 days for a rare brain disorder. According to his family, the 84-year-old activist is in stable condition following his hospitalization due to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative disease that affects balance, movement, and eye motion.

Rev. Jackson was admitted to the hospital earlier this month and has been under medical observation. His son, Yusef Jackson, who also serves as the family spokesperson, confirmed the news in a statement released through the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization founded by the elder Jackson.

“Our family would like to thank the countless friends and supporters who have reached out, visited, and prayed for our father,” Yusef Jackson stated. “We bear witness to the fact that prayer works and would also like to thank the professional, caring, and amazing medical and security staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.” He also requested continued prayers during this challenging time.

Health Challenges and Activism Legacy

Rev. Jesse Jackson was originally diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013, a condition he publicly acknowledged in 2017. His diagnosis was later reclassified as PSP in April 2025. “Recognition of the effects of this disease on me has been painful, and I have been slow to grasp the gravity of it,” he noted at the time.

Throughout his career, Jackson has faced various health issues, including gallbladder surgery and hospitalization due to COVID-19. In 2021, he was hospitalized after a fall while assisting students at Howard University who were protesting campus living conditions.

Jackson’s activism is deeply rooted in history. He worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and played a significant role in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference during the 1960s. He was notably involved in the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, advocating for voting rights for African Americans. Following King’s assassination in 1968, Jackson emerged as one of the leading figures in civil rights activism.

A Political Figure and Leader

Over the years, Rev. Jackson has made notable contributions to American politics. He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in both 1984 and 1988, becoming a prominent voice for racial equality and social justice. In 1996, he founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition by merging two organizations he previously established: Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) and the National Rainbow Coalition.

Jackson’s legacy continues to resonate, as he is regarded as one of the most influential civil rights leaders in modern American history. His dedication to social justice and advocacy for marginalized communities has shaped the landscape of civil rights and political activism in the United States.

As Rev. Jesse Jackson continues to recover, his family and supporters remain hopeful for his health and well-being, demonstrating the enduring impact of his life’s work on countless individuals and communities.