Civil Rights Icon Jesse Jackson in Stable Condition, Family Confirms
The family of Reverend Jesse Jackson has announced that the iconic civil rights leader is in stable condition and is breathing on his own, directly refuting what they termed 'inaccurate media reports' that claimed he was on life support.
The 84-year-old, a two-time Democratic presidential candidate, was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago last Wednesday so doctors could observe and treat his long-standing condition, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Jackson has been managing this neurodegenerative disease for more than a decade.
A Swift Medical Response and Steady Recovery
According to a family source speaking to CNN, the reverend experienced a significant drop in blood pressure on Saturday night. The medical team responded immediately, administering medication to stabilise him.
Under this care, Jackson showed brief but meaningful signs of responsiveness. In a positive turn over the last 24 hours, his condition has improved to the point where he has been able to maintain a stable blood pressure without the assistance of medication.
His son, Yusef Jackson, provided a heartening update on Sunday, revealing that his father has even returned to work. "Today, he called 2,000 churches to prepare 2,000 baskets of food to prevent malnutrition during the holiday season," Yusef stated.
A Lifetime of Activism and Public Service
Reverend Jackson's health journey has been closely followed due to his monumental role in American history. He rose to prominence in the 1960s as a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His activism began with efforts to desegregate a public library in Greenville and leading the sit-in movement.
Jackson's work includes:
- Founding Operation PUSH in Chicago in 1971.
- Establishing the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984.
- Running groundbreaking presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988.
- Serving as a Special Envoy for the Promotion of Democracy in Africa.
He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton in 2000 and has been widely recognised for his unifying efforts in civil rights.
The Jackson family expressed profound gratitude for the dedicated medical team at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and for the outpouring of prayers and kind messages from the public during this challenging time.
