Image Credit: Getty Images The late Reverend Jesse Jackson, known for his civil rights advocacy, died just three months after being hospitalized for health issues, stemming from his rare neurological disorder known as progressive supranuclear palsy. As the public and his family mourn his loss, many are learning more about the illness Jackson lived with during his final years. News of Jackson's death broke hours after he passed on February 17, 2026. His organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, announced it on Instagram that day.