Famed civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife Jacqueline were admitted to a Chicago hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, according to the Associated Press.
Jackson, 79, is vaccinated against the virus and received his first dose in January during a publicized event. Despite having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Jackson has remained active and has advocated for COVID-19 vaccines for Black people.
Jackson and his wife, 77, are being treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
“Doctors are currently monitoring the condition of both,” according to the statement from Jesse Jackson’s nonprofit, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
“Anyone who has been around either of them for the last five or six days should follow the CDC guidelines,” Rainbow Push reported.
“There are no further updates at this time,” the statement said. “We will provide updates as they become available.”
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The family has received best wishes and support.
Reverend Al Sharpton tweeted, “Let us all pray for Rev. and Mrs. Jesse Jackson. They need our sincere and intense prayers. Prayer changes things!!!”
Let us all pray for Rev. and Mrs Jesse Jackson. They need our sincere and intense prayers. Prayer changes things!!!
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) August 22, 2021
Martin Luther King’s Youngest daughter Bernice King tweeted, “Praying for Rev. Jesse Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson.”
Praying for Rev. Jesse Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson. ??
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) August 21, 2021
Keith Boykin tweeted, “Sending love to Rev. Jesse Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson.”
Sending love to Rev. Jesse Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson. ????https://t.co/B9HNI3MjK3
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) August 22, 2021
Rev. Jackson is the Founder and President of Rainbow PUSH Coalition. He has been a prolific civil rights leader throughout the decades. President Bill Clinton awarded Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Earlier in August, he was arrested outside the U.S. Capitol during a demonstration calling for Congress to end the filibuster to support voting rights.
We are sending our love and prayers for a fast recovery.
