In a disturbing bit of news from the weekend, famed civil rights leaders and two-time presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife Jacqueline were both hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19.
The Associated Press has reported that Jackson “received his first dose in January during a publicized event as he urged others to receive the inoculation as soon as possible. He and his wife, 77, are being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.”
In a statement from Jackson’s nonprofit group, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, spokespeople said, “doctors are currently monitoring the condition of both. There are no further updates at this time. We will provide updates as they become available.”
“A protégé of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson was key in guiding the modern civil rights movement on numerous issues, including voting rights,” AP reported.
Although he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017, Jackson has remained active in politics and social advocacy. Recently, he urged Black men and women to overcome their vaccine hesitancy and get vaccinated for COVID-19. He was also arrested earlier this month during a voting rights march as part of ongoing efforts to bring awareness to the cause and champion voting rights reform within Congress.
Here's How Democrats' Voting Rights Law Would Work#KeepHopeAliveWithRevJesseJackson Radio Show| SUN: 8-10aE/866.594.HOPE/#FacebookLive: #RevJesseJacksonSr| @iHeartRadio: @PatriotAM1150 & more| @YouTube: #TheSantitaJacksonShow|.@SantitaJ @RodneyEllis
https://t.co/f7AYiqFQIM— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) August 15, 2021
According to Jonathan Jackson, one of Rev. Jesse and Jacqueline Jackson’s sons, both are resting at the hospital and have responded positively to the COVID-19 treatments.
“My family appreciates all of the expressions of concern and prayers that have been offered on their behalf, and we will continue to offer our prayers for your family as well,” Jonathan Jackson said in a statement.
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