‘Wait, Why Is He In a Wheelchair?’: Jesse Jackson’s Declining Health Sparks Concern Following Frail Appearance at the DNC

The Democratic National Convention kicked off its first night with a tribute to one of the most iconic civil rights leaders of our time, the Rev. Jesse Jackson. After a heartfelt video highlighting Jackson’s extraordinary life, the 82-year-old, who was the second Black person to run for president on the Democratic ticket, appeared spot-lit in the audience in a wheelchair on the stage with his protégé the Rev. Al Sharpton. Civil rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson at SiriusXM Studios on Feb. 27, 2020, in New York City. (Photo: Jason Mendez/Getty Images) Though he didn’t speak on the stage as many of the other notables, Jackson waved and gave a thumbs-up as the crowd stood cheering. Oprah Daily captured the moment on Instagram, captioning it, “WHAT A MOMENT! Rev. Jesse Jackson surprised Day 1 of the @demconvention and got an emotional standing ovation. Are you watching? Let us know in the comments below!” Viewers responded warmly. “What a beautiful and emotional moment,” one person commented. “May God bless him and his family.” Another wrote, “He needs to be celebrated.” A third added, “A life dedicated to humanity! Thank you for your service!!” “Sure hope he lives to see Kamala win,”...