Rev Jackson diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease

The iconic Civil Rights Leader Rev Jesse Jackson informed his friends around the world that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and would be forced to change his hectic work schedule. The two time Presidential candidate Rev Jackson 76, is well known for his back -breaking international schedule. Those of us who have worked with him know that he’s abroad he starts his day with 8am breakfast meetings and doesn’t usually finish until 9pm in the evening.

In a letter sent to OBV, Rev Jackson stated:

Recognition of the effects of this disease on me has been painful, and I have been slow to grasp the gravity of it,”

Furthermore, he wrote:

For me, a Parkinson’s diagnosis is not a stop sign but rather a signal that I must make lifestyle changes and dedicate myself to physical therapy in hopes of slowing the disease’s progression.”

In closing his letter he stated that he is working on his memoir and that he will:

continue to try to instill hope in the hopeless, expand our democracy to the disenfranchised and free innocent prisoners around the world”.

Rev Jesse Jackson has been a good friend to Black Britain, to OBV and to me personally. At what must be a very difficult and challenging time we must all wish him great strength and send him the hope and love he has always afforded us.

Simon Woolley