Civil rights leader Rev Jesse Jackson, known for his decades of activism, working alongside Dr Martin Luther King Jr and beyond, died at the age of 84 on Tuesday.

Jackson, who had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy, a condition similar to Parkinson’s disease, passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by his family, according to a statement from the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

Born Jesse Louis Burns on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson rose to prominence as a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement. Over his decades-long career, he became one of the most influential African-American activists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, founding organisations that later merged to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

Jackson’s activism expanded into national and international politics in the 1980s. He launched his first presidential campaign in 1984, initially seen as a fringe candidate, finishing third in the Democratic nomination race behind former Vice President Walter Mondale and Senator Gary Hart. He mounted a second presidential bid in 1988, finishing runner-up to Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in a statement, expressed sadness at the news of the passing of the American civil rights icon. “Reverend Jackson is without doubt one of the most positively consequential civil rights leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries,” Holness said.

His activism, which centred on championing economic, racial and social justice and empowering Black, minority, and working-class people, including voters, had a global impact and will resonate for centuries to come.

“Humanity owes Reverend Jackson a debt of gratitude. He was an inspirational orator who commanded the ears and consciousness of the captains of the corridors of power, both in the United States and around the world.

“Reverend Jackson is among a unique cadre of civil rights leaders, including the late Dr Martin Luther King Jnr, who were admirable for their ability to put aside self-interest and, at significant personal risk, elect to prioritise what was right and good for humanity, not just in the United States of America, but across the globe,” Holness continued.

The passing of Reverend Jackson is a significant moment in history. His indelible efforts assisted greatly in ensuring that kindness, justice, equality and humanity prevailed in instances where they were forgotten virtues. “I pass on my most sincere condolences to Reverend Jackson’s family, friends and well-wishers who are now grieving his momentous loss. I have no doubt his lifetime of work will be remembered and honoured for many decades and centuries to come,” the prime minister said.