Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon, dies at age 84

Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson has died at the age of 84, as reported on February 17, 2026. Jackson was a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement, known for his work alongside Martin Luther King Jr. He gained further recognition through his two presidential campaigns. Jackson became one of the most influential Black political figures in American history. His death marks the loss of a significant leader in the fight for equality and social justice in the United States.