Jesse Jackson, a prominent figure of the United States civil rights movement and protégé of Martin Luther King Jr., has died aged 84 (17 February).
'Our father was a servant leader—not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,' the statement read. 'His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.'
At the time of writing, the cause of Jackson’s death has not yet been disclosed, but his family said he 'died peacefully'.
Jackson, a two-time presidential candidate, announced in 2017 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease some years prior.
Jackson attended the launch of StopWatch just over 15 years ago, calling for an end to racial profiling on both sides of the Atlantic.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family: wife Jacqueline, their six children, and grandchildren.
Sources: TIME, Financial Times