CHICAGO — The Rev. Jesse Jackson is recovering Monday after undergoing surgery at a Chicago hospital, according to officials with his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
Officials with the nonprofit, which was founded by Jackson in the 1970s, said he was recently admitted to a hospital with abdominal discomfort.
“After routine medical observation, successful surgery ensued, and Rev. Jackson is resting,” officials said Monday. “He is in good spirits and will be discharged in a few days. Thank you for your continued love, support, and prayers.”
PRESS STATEMENT Rev. Jesse Jackson Hospitalized Chicago, IL, January 31, 2021 -- "Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr., founder...
Posted by Rainbow PUSH Coalition on Monday, February 1, 2021
Unidentified sources told the Chicago Sun-Times that the 79-year-old civil rights leader was recovering Monday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital after being hospitalized Thursday.
Jackson had been scheduled to receive his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a news conference Friday, according to the Sun-Times. However, officials with the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition cancelled the event hours before it was scheduled to begin. Jackson had received his first dose of the vaccine three weeks ago, the Sun-Times reported.
Jackson’s son, Jonathan Jackson, told the newspaper that his dad had been “leading food drives up till this moment.”
“He is very upbeat and cheerful and talkative, and we look forward to seeing him home,” Jonathan Jackson said, according to the Sun-Times. “We thank everyone for your prayers.”
In 2017, Jackson announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease years earlier, after he and his family noticed that he was having more trouble getting around. He released a letter showing he had been diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder in 2015.
Jackson’s father also had Parkinson’s Disease, a disorder that causes brain cells to progressively die, leading to shakiness and stiffness, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Famed for his civil rights work with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his runs for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 1980s, Jackson’s remained a strong voice in anti-discrimination efforts, including advocating for affordable housing. He has been a fixture at protests nationwide.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
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