The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the prominent civil rights leader and two-time Democratic presidential candidate, has died at the age of 84. His family announced his passing in a statement, calling him “a servant leader – not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.” No cause of death was provided.

Jackson had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) for more than a decade, after an earlier diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, and had been hospitalized twice with Covid in recent years.

A towering figure in American civil rights since the 1960s, Jackson was once a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He launched historic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988, becoming one of the first Black Americans to compete seriously for the Democratic nomination. Speaking in 2020, Jackson reflected on his pioneering role: “I was a trailblazer, I was a pathfinder. I had to deal with doubt and cynicism and fears about a Black person running.”

Barack Obama, the first Black U.S. president, credited Jackson for helping pave the way for his historic victory. “It was a big moment in history,” Jackson told The Guardian years later.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, on October 8, 1941, Jackson’s early activism began in high school. In 1960, he and seven fellow students staged a peaceful protest to integrate the local public library, later becoming known as the “Greenville Eight.” He continued his education at historically Black colleges, where he led sit-ins and student activism while excelling in athletics.

Jackson met Dr. King in the early 1960s and joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), eventually directing its Operation Breadbasket program, which promoted economic justice through Black churches and corporate advocacy. He witnessed King’s assassination in Memphis in 1968, a moment that shaped his lifelong dedication to civil rights.

In 1971, Jackson founded People United to Save Humanity (Push), focusing on economic empowerment and education for Black communities. He later merged it with the National Rainbow Coalition to form the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a multiracial organization dedicated to social, educational, and economic equality. Over the years, the coalition has awarded millions in scholarships and helped thousands of families avoid foreclosure.

Jackson’s political influence extended into presidential campaigns, voting rights advocacy, and global human rights. In 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Throughout his life, Jackson remained a vocal critic of racial inequality, including disparities in healthcare during the Covid-19 pandemic. He called for continued activism, urging others to carry forward the struggle for justice, equality, and opportunity.

He is survived by his children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan Luther, Yusef DuBois, Jacqueline Jr., and Ashley.