US

Jesse Jackson Announces That He Has Parkinson’s Disease

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Henry Rodgers Chief National Correspondent
Font Size:

Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson announced Friday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Jackson, 76, revealed that he has had the neurological disease with no known cure after he began noticing changes in his health around three years ago. The civil rights leader and politician said the symptoms became so intense he could no longer ignore them.

“My family and I began to notice changes about three years ago. For a while, I resisted interrupting my work to visit a doctor. But as my daily physical struggles intensified I could no longer ignore the symptoms, so I acquiesced,” Jackson told The Chicago Tribune.

Jackson is best known for being a powerful figure in the civil rights movement and marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr. The reverend was the first African American to become a main contender for a considerable political nomination. Jackson has also received a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In Jackson’s statement he explained how painful the disease has been and mentioned how he has been coping with it.

“Recognition of the effects of this disease on me has been painful, and I have been slow to grasp the gravity of it. For me, a Parkinson’s diagnosis is not a stop sign but rather a signal that I must make lifestyle changes and dedicate myself to physical therapy in hopes of slowing the disease’s progression,” he wrote.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.