Reverend Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the civil rights movement and Democratic politics for more than half a century, has passed away at the age of 84. Jackson, who made a notable run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, was remembered by his family as a “servant leader” who dedicated his life to uplifting the marginalized and voiceless across the globe.

In a statement, his family said: “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His steadfast commitment to justice, equality, and love inspired millions. We ask that his legacy be honored by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”

No official cause of death was released. Jackson had lived with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) for over a decade, initially diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, and had been hospitalized twice in recent years due to Covid-19.

A central figure in civil rights since the 1960s, Jackson was closely connected to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and remained a prominent voice in American politics and activism throughout his life.