Rev. Jesse Jackson, the towering civil rights leader and one of the United States’ most influential Black voices, died peacefully this morning at 84, his family said, prompting an immediate outpouring of tributes from political leaders and activists at home and abroad.
President Donald Trump praised Jackson as “a force of nature like few others before him” and credited himself with helping the iconic minister in his efforts to empower Black Americans. Trump posted his remarks on his Truth Social platform.
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Former Vice President Kamala Harris called Jackson “one of America’s greatest patriots,” joining a chorus of U.S. leaders who credited his decades of advocacy with reshaping public life and politics.
Former President Joe Biden said he had seen firsthand how Jackson “helped lead our nation forward through tumult and triumph.” He added: “He’s done it with optimism, and a relentless insistence on what is right and just. Whether through impassioned words on the campaign trail, or moments of quiet courage, Reverend Jackson influenced generations of Americans, and countless elected leaders, including presidents.”
International tributes underscored Jackson’s global reach. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed Jackson’s “irrepressible campaigns against apartheid” and his support for the liberation struggle, calling it a “towering contribution to the global anti-apartheid cause.”
From within the civil rights movement, the remembrances were intimate and instructive. The Rev. Al Sharpton said Jackson was not simply a civil rights leader but “a movement unto himself.” He added: “He carried history in his footsteps and hope in his voice. One of the greatest honors of my life was learning at his side. He reminded me that faith without action is just noise. He taught me that protest must have purpose, that faith must have feet, and that justice is not seasonal, it is daily work.”
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump said Jackson conceived of a more just and inclusive America, believed in it with unwavering faith, and “dedicated his entire life to achieving it — all while teaching the next generation how to carry the torch forward.” Because of Jackson, Crump said, “there is a broader path in American politics and public life for leaders of color.”
In Britain, Diane Abbott, the first Black woman elected to the U.K. Parliament, described Jackson as “very smart, warm and hugely charismatic,” reflecting his long-standing influence on progressive politics beyond the United States.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Jackson a “legendary voice for the voiceless,” praising him as a “powerful civil rights champion and trailblazer extraordinaire.”
Irish opposition leader Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Féin said Jackson was “a giant of the struggle for justice and equality and a true friend of Ireland.” She called him a “steadfast friend” and “consistent supporter of the cause of Irish self-determination,” noting that he visited the country, engaged with political leaders, and lent his voice to the cause of peace and reconciliation.
Across statements, the tributes converged on a single theme: Jackson’s unyielding insistence on justice and his ability to translate faith and moral clarity into organizing power. His work energized generations of activists and helped widen participation in American public life, admirers said.
Jackson’s family said he died peacefully, and those remembering him emphasized not only his leadership from the pulpit and on the campaign trail but also the habits of courage and optimism he instilled. As leaders from Washington to Johannesburg to Dublin marked his passing, they framed his legacy as unfinished work — a project of inclusion and dignity that he pushed forward with a relentless belief in what America, and the wider world, could become.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
