Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, 84, is currently in stable condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. 

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Jackson was removed from the intensive care unit after being admitted last Wednesday for observation related to his progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

“We believe in the power of prayer, and we are grateful for the overwhelming outreach and prayers of the faithful,” Jackson’s son, Yusef Jackson, said in a public statement. “Our father is alert and continues to share his vision for churches and pastors to come together and reduce malnutrition during this period.”

Satita Jackson, Jesse’s eldest daughter, also shared that her father is doing much better after the scare and is ready to go. 

"As he communicates, sometimes by speech and sometimes by squeezing the hands, he really wants us to continue with the work, and he's ready to go home so that he can be out with the people," she said, according to CBS.

After being misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2013, Jackson was diagnosed with PSP — a rare neurological disorder this April. The illness affects body movements like walking, balancing, and eye movements, the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes.

Despite earlier rumors, Jackson’s family has confirmed he is breathing on his own and is not on life support, emphasizing he continues to receive dedicated medical care while improving daily.​

Jackson, who founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 1971, is known for his impactful activism and multiple presidential runs in the 1980s. In 2023, he stepped down as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition but remains a powerful voice for change. His family and supporters continue to appreciate the outpouring of prayers and well-wishes as he recovers.

Ever the energized activist, the family also shared that Jackson was "enlisting 2,000 churches and pastors to distribute 2,000 baskets of food to feed 4 million families this season."