Civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson has been hospitalized in Chicago as he continues to manage a serious neurodegenerative condition. In a statement on Wednesday, Jacksons organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, announced that the 84-year-old was admitted to the hospital and is currently under observation for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare brain disorder he has been living with for more than a decade. The family appreciates all prayers at this time, the coalition said. Jackson was initially diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, but doctors later confirmed his PSP diagnosis in April 2024. The condition, which affects balance, movement, and cognitive functions, is often misdiagnosed as Parkinsons because of their similar symptoms. PSP primarily impacts people over the age of 60 and is more common in men than women. Born in 1941, Jesse Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most influential civil rights figures in American history. A protg of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he rose to prominence in the 1960s after leaving his studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary to join the Civil Rights Movement, working closely alongside King in the fight for racial equality and social justice. In 1996, Jackson established the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a Chicago-based organization promoting social change and equal opportunity. The coalition was formed from two groups he had previously founded, People United to Serve Humanity (PUSH) in 1971 and the Rainbow Coalition in 1984. Jackson stepped down as president of the organization in 2023, passing leadership to a new generation of activists. Throughout his career, Jackson earned numerous accolades for his work in human rights and nonviolent activism. In 2000, former U.S. President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor. He has also received more than 40 honorary doctoral degrees in recognition of his decades-long contribution to civil rights. Jackson twice ran for president, in 1984 and 1988, and his campaigns helped register more than three million new voters, significantly reshaping the political landscape for African Americans in the United States. In the 1990s, he served as a shadow senator for Washington, D.C., advocating for full statehood for the nations capital. While no further details about his treatment or recovery have been released, messages of support and prayers have poured in from around the country for the veteran activist, who continues to inspire generations through his lifelong dedication to justice and equality.
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