Jesse Jackson: civil rights lion sought 'common ground'

US civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson died on February 17, 2026, his family said in a statement..[AFP]

Jesse Jackson, who died Tuesday aged 84, had a three-pronged career of civil rights, liberal missions and political activism, and his White House bids in the 1980s helped lay the groundwork for the election of America's first Black president two decades later.

Jackson's family announced his death, hailing "his unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love".