1968 – Jackson is present at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in Memphis, later recounts that King died in his arms and positions himself as King’s successor in the civil‑rights movement [1][5][6][9].

1971 – Jackson leaves the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and founds Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) on Chicago’s South Side, targeting minority hiring and corporate accountability [5][9].

1984 – Jackson runs for the Democratic presidential nomination, mobilizing multiracial voter registration and introducing progressive platforms that later aid Black candidates [1][2][5][6].

1988 – Jackson runs again, wins 13 primaries, expands Black‑White voter coalitions and pushes for proportional delegate allocation, reshaping the Democratic Party [1][2][5][6].

1990 – At the Seattle Goodwill Games, Jackson declares Seattle a “Rainbow City” and urges “an American to hug a Russian and a Russian to hug an American,” cementing his West‑coast presence [8].

1998 – Jackson organizes a cross‑ideological rally in Ohio with Jerry Falwell and Martin Sheen, showcasing his ability to unite disparate groups against poverty [7].

Jan 14, 1999 – Jackson praises Donald Trump at the Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project, highlighting Trump’s support for minority business access; Trump later cites the remark in his campaigns [3].

2013 – Jackson receives a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, later recognized as a misdiagnosis of his underlying condition [9].

2014 – After the Ferguson shooting, Jackson speaks at Seattle’s Mount Zion Baptist Church, urging tech giants such as Microsoft and Amazon to improve diversity and calling tech‑sector equity “the civil‑rights issue of this decade” [8].

2018 – Jackson meets Urban League CEO Stephanie Hightower at the National Urban League Conference, receiving praise for his authenticity and mentorship [7].

2021 – Jackson leads a criminal‑justice reform march, is arrested while demanding congressional protection of voting rights, and continues high‑profile activism into his 80s [2].

July 2023 – Jackson announces his resignation as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition after more than five decades, citing ongoing health challenges [2][6].

2024 – Jackson appears at the Democratic National Convention, where he is honored and reaffirms his influence on the party’s progressive agenda [2][6].

Apr 2025 – Jackson’s organization corrects his diagnosis to progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurodegenerative disorder that impairs movement, balance and speech [1][9].

Nov 13, 2025 – Jackson is admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for observation of PSP complications, entering a period of limited communication and requiring round‑the‑clock family care [9].

Feb 17, 2026 – Jackson dies peacefully at his Chicago home surrounded by family, ending a six‑decade civil‑rights career; tributes flow from Barack Obama (“a true giant”), Donald Trump (“a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and ‘street smarts’”), and numerous leaders [1][2][3][4][5][9].

Feb 2026 (future) – The Rainbow PUSH Coalition announces a celebration‑of‑life service in Chicago, inviting the public to honor Jackson’s legacy [4].