The Rev. Jesse Jackson has been discharged from a Chicago hospital after treatment for a rare neurological disorder, his son confirmed on Tuesday. The 84-year-old civil rights leader was released on Monday from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to family spokesperson Yusef Jackson.
Jackson, who now receives round-the-clock care at home, was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013, but his diagnosis was revised last April to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s. He was admitted to hospital on November 14.
During his stay, Jackson received visits from former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton, as well as fellow civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton and television arbitrator Judge Greg Mathis. Yusef Jackson thanked well-wishers and medical staff for their support, asking for continued prayers.
A protégé of Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson was a two-time presidential candidate and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. Despite his diagnosis in 2017, he continued public appearances, including at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He stepped down as Rainbow/PUSH leader in 2023 but maintained a regular office presence until recently. His family reports he now uses a wheelchair, struggles to keep his eyes open, and is unable to speak.
