Oct 8, 1941 – Jesse Jackson is born in Greenville, South Carolina, later becoming a student activist and rising to a top aide role in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) under Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. [3]

1960s – Jackson leads the SCLC’s Operation Breadbasket, organizing boycotts and voter‑registration drives that boost Black economic power and civil‑rights momentum. [1]

Apr 4, 1968 – Jackson arrives at the Lorraine Motel moments before Dr. King’s assassination and later recounts that King died in his arms, cementing his status as King’s successor. [1][6][7]

1971 – Jackson departs the SCLC and founds Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) on Chicago’s South Side, focusing on minority hiring and corporate accountability. [10]

1984 – Jackson runs for the Democratic presidential nomination, creates the multiracial Rainbow Coalition, and draws national attention despite a controversial anti‑Jewish slur for which he later apologizes. [3][4]

1984 – He negotiates the release of U.S. prisoners held in Cuba, showcasing his emerging role as an international hostage‑negotiator. [3]

1988 – In his second presidential bid, Jackson wins 13 primaries, delivers a Columbus speech urging the nation to “stop the drugs, stop the jobs from going out, and invest in people and infrastructure,” and solidifies his reputation as a coalition‑builder. [8]

1990 – At the Seattle Goodwill Games, Jackson declares Seattle a “Rainbow City,” urging Americans and Russians to embrace each other, marking the start of a three‑decade Seattle connection. [9]

1998 – Jackson organizes a cross‑ideological rally in Ohio with conservative pastor Jerry Falwell and actor Martin Sheen, demonstrating his ability to unite disparate groups against poverty. [8]

Jan 14, 1999 – At the Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project conference, Jackson praises Donald Trump for supporting minority businesses, calling Trump “a terrific guy.” [4]

1999 – President Bill Clinton awards Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his civil‑rights leadership and diplomatic successes. [3]

1999 – Jackson secures the release of three U.S. soldiers detained in Yugoslavia, further cementing his reputation as a skilled negotiator. [3]

2014 – During a Seattle tour, Jackson links the Ferguson protests to tech‑industry equity, urging companies like Microsoft and Amazon to hire more women and minorities as “the civil‑rights issue of this decade.” [9]

2017 – Jackson publicly discloses his treatment for Parkinson’s disease, signaling ongoing health challenges. [6]

2018 – He meets Urban League CEO Stephanie Hightower at the National Urban League Conference, receiving praise for his authenticity and mentorship. [8]

2021 – Jackson leads a criminal‑justice reform march, continuing his activism on voting rights and mass‑incarceration. [2]

2023 – After more than five decades, Jackson steps down as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, passing the mantle to new leadership. [2][3][6]

2024 – He appears on stage at the Democratic National Convention, where Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledges his contributions to the party’s progressive agenda. [2][3][5]

Apr 2025 – Jackson receives a corrected diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurodegenerative disorder that supersedes his earlier Parkinson’s label. [1][10]

Nov 13, 2025 – He is hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for observation of PSP complications, entering a period of severe decline. [10]

Feb 17, 2026 – Jackson dies peacefully at his Chicago home, surrounded by family, ending a six‑decade civil‑rights career. [1][2][5][6][7][10]

Feb 17, 2026 – President Barack Obama calls Jackson “a true giant” in a tribute, highlighting his lasting impact on American politics. [1]

Feb 17, 2026 – Former President Donald Trump posts on Truth Social that Jackson was “a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and ‘street smarts’,” offering a posthumous commendation. [4]

Feb 17, 2026 – Jackson’s family issues a statement describing him as a “servant leader” to the oppressed and urging the public to continue his fight for justice, equality, and love. [5][10]

Feb 2026 (future) – The Rainbow PUSH Coalition announces it will post celebration‑of‑life details for Jackson, signaling upcoming memorial events. [5]