Rev. Jesse Jackson, an eminent figure in the history of American civil rights, is stepping down as the leader of the organization he established in 1971. The announcement was made by a spokesperson for Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Jesse Jackson’s son, confirming that the long-serving civil rights leader will retire from his role as the head of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition this year. The decision is set to be announced by Rev. Jackson himself on Sunday during the organization’s annual convention, as reported by Rep. Jackson in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times.
Reflecting on his father’s legacy, Jonathan Jackson, an Illinois Democrat, expressed that Rev. Jesse Jackson has always been at the forefront of the fight for civil rights, leaving an indelible mark in history.
Rev. Jackson, who will turn 82 in October, has remained actively involved in civil rights despite facing health challenges in recent years. In 2017, he revealed that he was undergoing treatment for Parkinson’s disease, and in 2021, he underwent gallbladder surgery. Later that same year, he shared that he was receiving treatment for COVID-19, which required rehabilitation at a physical therapy facility.
Rev. Jesse Jackson’s influential career began when he broke away from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1971 to establish Operation PUSH, initially known as People United to Save Humanity. This comprehensive civil rights organization, based in Chicago’s South Side, aimed to promote various causes, from advocating for the hiring of more minorities in corporations to conducting voter registration drives in minority communities. The organization was later renamed the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Notably, Rev. Jackson made a significant impact as a presidential candidate, becoming the most successful Black contender for the Democratic nomination before Barack Obama’s historic campaign in 2008. In the 1988 Democratic primaries and caucuses, Jackson secured victories in 13 states.
The annual convention of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, scheduled for this weekend in Chicago, will be a crucial event marking this transition in leadership. However, the organization has yet to respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital for further comments.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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