CHICAGO (AP) – The Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, remained under medical observation Sunday at a Chicago hospital and “responded positively to COVID-19 treatments,” his son told The Associated Press .
The couple, married for nearly six decades, were admitted at Northwestern Memorial Hospital the day before. Doctors were “carefully monitoring his condition” because of his age, Jonathan Jackson, one of the couple’s five children, said in a statement.
Jesse Jackson is 79 years old and Jacqueline is 77 years old.
“They both rest comfortably and respond positively to their treatments,” Jonathan Jackson said. “My family is grateful for all the expressions of concern and prayers that have been offered on your behalf and we will continue to offer our prayers for your family as well.”
Chicago civil rights leader Jesse Jackson is vaccinated against the virus and received his first dose in January during an advertising event, as he urged others to receive the inoculation as soon as possible. The vaccination status of his wife, who is also an activist, was unclear. Family members said he has an unspecified underlying illness that has caused concern in recent days.
“We ask you to continue to pray for the full recovery of our parents. We will continue to update you regularly, ”Jonathan Jackson said.
Jesse Jackson, who has Parkinson’s disease, was hospitalized earlier this year for unrelated gallbladder surgery.
As a mentor to the Rev. Martin Luther King, he was crucial in guiding the modern civil rights movement on numerous issues, including voting rights. Despite his diagnosis of Parkinson’s, Jackson has remained active and has continued to travel, even during the pandemic.
In recent weeks he has been arrested for civil disobedience, including last month during a session at the center Phoenix Democrat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s Phoenix office has faced pressure on her opposition to ending the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation.
A spokesman for the Northwest had no further information.
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