In brief
Rev. Jesse Jackson, renowned civil rights leader and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, has been released from Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after being treated for progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological disorder. Jackson, who was hospitalized on November 14 and has been battling health challenges since a Parkinson's disease diagnosis in 2013, is now under round-the-clock care at home. Family members thank supporters for their prayers and express hopes for continued strength during this time.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Rev. Jesse Jackson has been released from a Chicago hospital where he was treated for a rare neurological disorder, his son said Tuesday. The 84-year-old civil rights leader was discharged Monday from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, as confirmed by family spokesperson Yusef Jackson.Diagnosed in 2013 with Parkinson’s disease, Jackson's condition was later updated to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s. Yusef Jackson expressed gratitude to the friends and supporters who have reached out, visited, and prayed for their father, and thanked the medical staff at the hospital.A protégé of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jackson is known for his work as a two-time presidential candidate and as the founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. He was hospitalized on November 14 and received visits from notable figures, including former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Judge Greg Mathis.After announcing his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Jackson continued to be active, making public appearances, including at the upcoming 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, despite his health limitations. Currently, he requires a wheelchair, struggles to maintain eye contact and communicate verbally. His family, including his sons, has been providing attentive care at home during this challenging time.
