US Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson Hospitalized with PSP

Legendary US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has been hospitalized and is under medical observation for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative condition he has been managing for over a decade, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition confirmed on Thursday.

Jackson, 84, was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease but his condition was confirmed as PSP last April, the organization said in a statement. “The family appreciates all prayers at this time,” it added, highlighting Jackson’s long-standing resilience in the face of health challenges.

A pivotal figure in the civil rights movement since the 1960s, Jackson worked closely with his mentor, Martin Luther King Jr., and was present in Memphis, Tennessee, when King was assassinated in 1968. Over his decades-long career, Jackson has been a relentless advocate for the rights of Black Americans and other minority communities.

In 2017, Jackson publicly revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis, a progressive ailment that affects movement and motor control. Since then, he has faced additional health challenges, including hospitalizations in 2021 after testing positive for COVID-19 and from a fall that caused head injuries.

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which Jackson founded, is a merger of his 1971 initiative, “People United to Save Humanity,” and a coalition formed after his first run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984. The organization continues to champion social justice, equal opportunity, and civil rights in Jackson’s enduring legacy.

Jackson’s hospitalization has prompted an outpouring of support from leaders and admirers worldwide, honoring his decades of activism and contributions to equality and human rights. As he remains under observation, the public continues to send thoughts and prayers for his recovery.