Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson has been discharged from Northwestern Memorial Hospital after receiving treatment. The Rainbow PUSH Organization confirmed his release on Monday. Sources indicate he was being treated for blood pressure management.
Rev. Jackson, 84, a prominent figure in the civil rights movement and a protégé of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has been under observation for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). The Rainbow PUSH Coalition previously disclosed his condition in a statement. The organization founded by Jackson stated that he is currently in stable condition.
A source confirmed that Jackson has returned to his residence. His son and family spokesperson, Yusef Jackson, expressed gratitude for the support received: "Our family would like to thank the countless friends and supporters who have reached out, visited, and prayed for our father. We bear witness to the fact that prayer works and would also like to thank the professional, caring, and amazing medical and security staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We humbly ask for your continued prayers throughout this precious time."
On November 16, Jackson's organization reported that he was breathing independently without the aid of machines and was not on life support. An earlier report suggested he was receiving medication to elevate his blood pressure, which constitutes a form of life support. Further details about his condition remain undisclosed.
PSP is described by the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke as "a rare neurological disorder that affects body movements, walking and balance, and eye movements." The onset of the disease typically occurs in a person's 60s, exhibiting some symptoms akin to Parkinson's disease. The institute notes that most individuals with PSP experience severe disability within three to five years.
Jackson has been managing this neurodegenerative condition for over a decade, according to a previous statement from his organization. He was originally diagnosed with Parkinson's disease but the diagnosis was changed to PSP in April. The Jackson family has long been involved in civil rights operations in Chicago, where he was hospitalized.