SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Rev. Jesse Jackson, a significant figure in the civil rights movement, has been discharged from a Chicago hospital after receiving treatment for a rare neurological disorder, as confirmed by his son on Tuesday.
The 84-year-old activist was released from Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Monday, according to family spokesperson Yusef Jackson.
In 2013, Rev. Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but last April, his diagnosis was updated to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative condition that shares similar symptoms with Parkinson’s.
Yusef Jackson expressed gratitude toward the many friends and supporters who have reached out, visited, and prayed for their father, and also thanked the staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for their care.
“We humbly ask for your continued prayers throughout this precious time,” Yusef added.
A protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jackson was hospitalized on November 14. Notable visitors during his stay included former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, and Judge Greg Mathis.
Despite the challenges posed by his illness, Jackson has remained active. Following his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2017, he continued public appearances, including at the upcoming 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Earlier this year, he stepped back from his role as leader of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, an organization he founded in 1971, although he remained involved until recently.
Currently, Jackson requires a wheelchair, struggles to keep his eyes open, and is unable to speak. His family, including sons Illinois U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson and former congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., are providing care on a rotating schedule.
