US President Donald Trump has praised the late Reverend Jesse Jackson as one of a kind and took credit for helping the iconic civil rights leader as he fought to empower black Americans.
Mr Jackson, a civil rights activist and one of the US's most influential Black voices, died peacefully this morning aged 84, his family said in a statement.
"Jesse was a force of nature like few others before him," Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
"He loved his family greatly, and to them I send my deepest sympathies and condolences. Jesse will be missed."
Former US vice president Kamala Harris hailed Mr Jackson as "one of America's greatest patriots".
She recalled driving to law school in the 1980s in California with a "Jesse Jackson for President" bumper sticker. "You would not believe how people from every walk of life would give me a thumbs up or honk of support," she wrote in a post on X.
Former president of the United States Joe Biden said he had seen how Reverend Jackson had "helped lead our Nation forward through tumult and triumph".
"He's done it with optimism, and a relentless insistence on what is right and just," he said.
"Whether through impassioned words on the campaign trail, or moments of quiet courage, Reverend Jackson influenced generations of Americans, and countless elected leaders, including presidents."
President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa said: "Rev Jesse Jackson's irrepressible campaigns against apartheid and his support for the liberation struggle was a towering contribution to the global anti-apartheid cause."
While another civil rights and social justice activist, Reverend Al Sharpton, said the late Mr Jackson was not simply a civil rights leader; "he was a movement unto himself".
"He carried history in his footsteps and hope in his voice. One of the greatest honors of my life was learning at his side," he said.
"He reminded me that faith without action is just noise. He taught me that protest must have purpose, that faith must have feet, and that justice is not seasonal, it is daily work."
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump said Mr Jackson conceived of a more just and inclusive America, believed in it with unwavering faith, and "dedicated his entire life to achieving it - all while teaching the next generation how to carry the torch forward".
"Because of Reverend Jackson, there is a broader path in American politics and public life for leaders of color," Mr Crumpton said.
The first black woman to be voted in as a member of the British parliament, Diane Abbot, described Mr Jackson as a "very smart, warm and hugely charismatic" man.
Top democrat and house minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said Mr Jackson was a "legendary voice for the voiceless", adding that he was a "powerful civil rights champion and trailblazer extraordinaire".
While in Ireland, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described Mr Jackson as "a giant of the struggle for justice and equality and a true friend of Ireland".
She added that the civil rights leader was a "steadfast friend of Ireland" and a "consistent supporter of the cause of Irish self-determination".
"Jesse Jackson took a close interest in developments in Ireland over many decades," she said.
"He visited our country, engaged with political leaders and lent his voice to the cause of peace and reconciliation."
Former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams expressed his "deep sense of loss" on the death of Rev Jesse Jackson.
"I had the great honour and privilege of meeting Jesse Jackson many times in the USA and here in Ireland," said Mr Adams.
"He was a fearless and inspirational civil rights leader and a tireless advocate for equality and justice in the USA and elsewhere, including Ireland."
Read more: Jesse Jackson: Civil rights champion who sought 'common ground'
