Jesse Jackson Released from Chicago Hospital After Nearly Two Weeks of Care

U.S. civil rights icon Jesse Jackson has been released from a Chicago hospital after receiving medical care for nearly two weeks, according to a statement from his family. The 84-year-old Baptist minister, longtime social activist, and former presidential candidate was discharged Monday from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he had been under observation for a degenerative neurological disorder.

Jackson’s son and family spokesperson, Yusef Jackson, confirmed that his father “remains in stable condition” following his release. The update was shared through the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the influential Chicago-based civil rights and political action organization Jackson founded.

His hospitalization was first announced on November 12, when Rainbow PUSH revealed he was being monitored for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disorder that affects movement, balance, and vision. Jackson was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013, but doctors updated his diagnosis to PSP earlier this year in April. The family did not provide further details regarding his treatment but expressed gratitude for the continuous support, prayers, and well-wishes from friends, supporters, and medical staff.

Jesse Jackson has been a central figure in the U.S. civil rights movement since the 1960s. As a young lieutenant in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), he worked closely with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and was present in Memphis, Tennessee, when King was assassinated in 1968. Jackson later emerged as one of the most prominent voices advocating for racial justice, economic equality, and political empowerment.

In the 1980s, Jackson expanded his influence nationally by running for the Democratic presidential nomination, first in 1984 and again in 1988. Although he did not secure the nomination, his campaigns energized millions of voters and helped shift the political landscape.

As he continues to recover, Jackson’s family asks supporters to keep him in their thoughts and prayers during this “precious time.”