Rev. Jesse Jackson announces that he’s stepping down as the head of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
A representative for Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Jesse’s son, verified that the civil rights advocate will be relinquishing his role as the leader of the organization this year. The former presidential candidate intends to make his retirement announcement on Sunday at the organization’s annual convention.
“Reverend Jesse Jackson is officially pivoting from his role as president of Rainbow PUSH Coalition,” the organization says. “His commitment is unwavering. And he will elevate his life’s work by teaching ministers how to fight for social justice and continue the freedom movement.”
As a protégé of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jackson made the decision in 1971 to break away from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to establish his own organization. Originally known as People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), the organization, later renamed Operation PUSH, aimed to address a wide range of civil rights issues.
Shortly after, the organization became known as the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The name change broadened its mission to include initiatives such as advocating for increased minority representation in corporate employment. The organization’s upcoming annual convention is scheduled to take place this weekend, where his successor will be announced.
Despite facing health challenges, Jackson has continued to actively engage in civil rights endeavors in recent years. In 2017, he disclosed his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and underwent gallbladder surgery in 2021. Additionally, in the same year, Jackson shared that he was undergoing treatment for COVID-19, necessitating a period of recovery at a physical therapy facility.
