Rev. Jesse Jackson Hospitalized to Manage Neurodegenerative Condition
The Rev. Jesse Jackson was admitted to the hospital Wednesday for treatment related to his diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
The civil rights organization, known as the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, confirmed the news in a statement Wednesday, saying Jackson was “currently under observation” at the medical center.
“He has been managing this neurodegenerative disease for over a decade,” the statement said. “He was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease; however, this past April his PSP condition was confirmed.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, PSP is “a rare brain disease that affects walking, balance, eye movements and swallowing.” It may also be known as Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome.
Before concluding the update, the organization added: “The family appreciates all the prayers at this time. »
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition did not provide further details about Jackson’s treatment or when he is expected to be released from the hospital. However, this statement came after reports surfaced that Jackson had been hospitalized in Chicago, Illinois.
Jackson, who turned 84 in October, rose to prominence as a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. A leading civil rights spokesperson for more than six decades, Jackson notably ran for president in 1984 and 1988. He also served as a shadow delegate and senator from the District of Columbia between 1991 and 1997.
Jackson led the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which describes itself as “an organization dedicated to improving the economic conditions of Black communities across the United States,” for several decades before stepping down as president in 2023.
He is the father of six children, including former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson.
