US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, a prominent figure and close associate of Martin Luther King Jr., has died at the age of 84. His family announced his peaceful passing on Tuesday, emphasizing his lifelong dedication to justice, equality, and human rights, which inspired a global movement. Jackson, born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, became a key leader in the fight for African American rights from the 1960s onward. He studied theology in Chicago and joined King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference, later founding his own organizations, including the Rainbow Coalition. Jackson twice ran for U.S. President in the 1980s, paving the way for Barack Obama's historic election in 2008. He had been battling health issues, including Parkinson's disease and a COVID-19 infection in 2021.