Chicago (FN) — Civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson remains hospitalized in Chicago as doctors continue efforts to stabilize his blood pressure after a sudden medical episode over the weekend, according to a family source briefed on his condition.
Jackson, 84, experienced a significant drop in blood pressure Saturday night. Physicians immediately began treatment to raise his levels, using medications his medical team described as “a form of life support.” His family, however, emphasized that Jackson is breathing on his own and is not on a ventilator or mechanical life-support device.
In an updated statement, relatives said Jackson is “showing positive signs” and remains under close monitoring.
A Civil Rights Leader With a Complex Legacy
For decades, Jackson was widely regarded as “the conscience of the nation,” a moral voice in American politics who emerged from the civil rights movement under the mentorship of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He later founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and became a national figure through his advocacy for racial equality, economic justice, and voting rights.
But Jackson’s public life has also included moments of controversy.
In 2001, he acknowledged fathering a child with a woman outside his marriage — a revelation that prompted him to step away from public life temporarily.
And during the 2008 presidential campaign, Jackson apologized after being caught on a hot mic making uncomplimentary and crude remarks about then-Sen. Barack Obama, comments he later said did not reflect his long-standing support for Obama’s candidacy.
Despite these incidents, Jackson remained a central and influential figure in American public life.
Managing a Long-Term Neurological Disorder
Jackson has been battling Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare and degenerative neurological condition that affects movement, balance, speech, and swallowing. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition confirmed the diagnosis earlier this year, noting that he had managed PSP symptoms for more than a decade.
He was previously diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017, though the PSP diagnosis offers a more accurate explanation for his health challenges in recent years.
Family Pushes Back on “Life Support” Reports
Confusion grew Sunday after initial reports claimed Jackson was placed on life support. His family later clarified that he was not on mechanical life support, and that the medication used to regulate his blood pressure was being mischaracterized.
“He is stable, he is responsive, and he is receiving excellent care,” a family spokesperson told CNN.
Nationwide Concern and Support
Messages of concern have poured in from political leaders, faith groups, and supporters across the country — underscoring Jackson’s long, complicated, and influential presence in American public life.
Doctors have not released a projected timeline for his release from the hospital, and the family says they expect further updates later this week.
