Veteran US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson dies at 84 after prolonged illness

US civil rights veteran and two-time US presidential candidate Jesse Jackson passed away on Thursday at the age of 84, his family confirmed. He was also a longtime associate of another American civil rights stalwart Martin Luther King Jr. He died at home surrounded by relatives after prolonged health complications, including Parkinson’s disease and a rare neurological disorder, progressive supranuclear palsy, AP reported. Jackson rose from humble beginnings in segregated South Carolina to become one of America’s most prominent activists, championing voting rights, jobs, education, healthcare and racial equality for over five decades. A key figure in the civil rights movement after King’s assassination in 1968, he founded Operation PUSH and later the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition to promote social justice and economic inclusion. Known for his powerful oratory and slogans like “Keep Hope Alive,” Jackson ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, winning several primaries and expanding political opportunities for minorities.In 2000, Jackson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian award — from US President Bill Clinton.