Jackson, who was an associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., became one of the most influential civil rights activists in the country.

WASHINGTON, United States — Veteran political activist Reverend Jesse Jackson, one of America’s most influential Black voices, was hailed Tuesday as a pillar of the struggle for civil rights after his death at age 84.

Jesse Jackson, a pivotal U.S. civil rights leader who was closely associated with Martin Luther King Jr., has died at 84. His impactful campaigns and presidential runs inspired generations, influencing politics and social justice across America.

The US civil rights activist's influence spread from the churches of the Deep South to the White House.