He was a Baptist minister who rose from the segregated South to become a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr, not to mention a prominent civil rights leader in his own right.And on Tuesday, Jesse Jackson passed away in the United States at age 84. His family confirmed his death in a statement, saying Jackson “died peacefully”, though it did not specify a cause.Recommended Stories list of 1 itemend of listJackson remained politically active throughout his life, including through his leadership in some of the country’s top civil rights groups.In the late 1960s, he helmed Operation Breadbasket, which addressed economic inequality among Black people. Later, he founded the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition to help engage national audiences on issues of social justice.Jackson also ran twice for the Democratic presidential nomination, once in 1984 and again in 1988.Here’s how leaders in the US and around the world are reacting to his death.Donald Trump, US presidentTrump issued a Truth Social post on Tuesday, saying that he “knew him well, long before becoming President”. He also shared multiple photos of himself and Jackson together at social events.“He was a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and ‘street smarts.’ He was very gregarious – Someone who truly loved people!” the president said.In the post, Trump also used his acquaintance with Jackson to defend himself against allegations of racism, after he shared a video depicting Barack Obama, the country’s first Black president, as an ape earlier this month.Barack ObamaObama released a statement explaining that he is “deeply saddened to hear about the passing of a true giant”. Advertisement He said that he and his wife, Michelle, were directly inspired by Jackson, writing: “Michelle got her first glimpse of political organizing at the Jacksons’ kitchen table when she was a teenager.“And in his two historic runs for president, he laid the foundation for my own campaign to the highest office of the land.”Joe Biden, former US presidentBi …
