In a development that has captured widespread attention, civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson was admitted to a Chicago hospital on Wednesday, as confirmed by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
By Thursday evening, Jackson’s family reassured the public that he remained in stable condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, surrounded by close relatives.
Over the past few years, Rev. Jackson has often been seen in a wheelchair, and his public appearances have become less frequent. While many assumed he was battling Parkinson’s disease, it was disclosed by Rainbow PUSH officials that he has been diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, earlier this year.
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Santita Jackson, Rev. Jackson’s daughter, briefly stepped away from her father’s bedside, where he continues to receive care for complications related to PSP, marking his second consecutive night at the hospital.
Reflecting on the situation, Santita offered words of resilience and hope: “Tough times never last, but tough people do. And, with God on your side, you are a majority.” She added, “This is not a tragic moment. This is a triumphant moment. As my mother said, ‘We both started at less than zero and now he is a hero to so many.’”
Rev. Jackson’s son, Jackson Jr., also addressed his father’s health condition during his radio show on Thursday afternoon, providing further insight into the ongoing situation.
“On behalf of the Jackson family, we can not extend enough of our gratitude for those of you who have expressed your thoughts and prayer over the last 24 hours,” Jackson Jr. said. “Dad has lived a number of years past the life expectancy of associated with this particular disease and has put up and continues to put up a valiant struggle against this particular form of unique Parkinson’s, for which there is no cure.”
Rev. Jackson was diagnosed with PSP in April 2025, Rainbow PUSH said.
“We are grateful for the medical team at Northwestern Hospital. Reverend Jackson is receiving appropriate treatment,” a Thursday evening statement from Rainbow PUSH read in part. “They will continue to monitor his progress and well-being to ensure the best possible care and support.”
The 84-year-old gained national attention in the 1960s as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s protégé. Jackson spent more than 60 years advocating for racial equality and economic justice. He ran for U.S. president in 1984 and 1988.
He helped to found the Chicago-based Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization dedicated to social justice. He spent nearly three decades leading Rainbow PUSH before stepping down in 2023.
Rev. Jackson’s impact has been felt around the world, and people are now sending well-wishes and prayers in return of his lifelong acts of service.
“And just, really, what his service has meant to people,” Santita Jackson said. “It really, in this moment, has really lifted everybody. I was talking with my father. I said, ‘You don’t know how many people love you.’ And just, really, what his service has meant to people.”
Rev. Jackson’s family says doctors are monitoring his progress, and a timeline on his release remains unclear.
What is PSP?
Dr. Jori Fleisher, a neurologist at Rush University Medical Center, said PSP is also known as “Parkinson’s plus,” or an atypical Parkinson’s condition.
“People have this unusual tendency in PSP to fall backwards,” Dr. Fleisher explained. “It’s almost like they are just standing still and they are kind of pushed backwards.”
Dr. Behzad Elahi is a neurologist at UChicago Medicine. He is not working on Rev. Jackson’s case, but described the disease as part of the same family as Parkinson’s, but is more rare and more advanced, and it affects chewing, swallowing and balance. It is a disease where those closest to the patient must keep close watch.
“Less than 10% of those with Parkinsonism with or Parkinson disease will be diagnosed with PSP,” Dr. Elahi said. “The family is everything. Currently, we don’t have a cure for the disease. We have some medication that can help with some symptoms, but we currently don’t have any cure.”
Progressive supranuclear palsy is a rare brain disease that affects walking, balance, eye movements and swallowing, according to the Mayo Clinic.
PSP is also known as Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome.
The cause of PSP isn’t known, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms come from the damage of brain cells.
The only proven risk factor for progressive supranuclear palsy is age, according to the Mayo Clinic.
