Civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson, 84, is reportedly on life support at a Chicago hospital as loved ones rush to be by his side.
According to multiple outlets, Jackson is being kept stable with medication after complications from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) — a rare, degenerative neurological disorder that affects movement, balance, and eye motion.
CBS News reports that Jackson’s condition worsened late last week, prompting his family to gather at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He’s said to have had moments of alertness after a sharp drop in blood pressure over the weekend.
Jackson’s organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, confirmed his hospitalization but has asked for prayers instead of speculation. “This is not a tragic moment — this is a triumphant moment,” his daughter, Santita Jackson, told ABC News. “With God on your side, you are a majority.”
His son, Jesse Jackson Jr., added that his father has “lived well beyond the life expectancy” for PSP and continues to “fight a valiant battle.”
A protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Reverend Jackson spent six decades at the forefront of America’s civil rights movement — from marching in Selma to running for president in the 1980s, to leading national campaigns for racial and economic justice.
Doctors are reportedly trying to reduce Jackson’s dependence on life-supporting medication, but no timeline has been given for recovery. Meanwhile, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition has vowed to continue his mission “in honor of his extraordinary legacy.”
(Source: Newsweek)
Discover more from Next Gen News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.