Rev. Jesse Jackson was rushed to a hospital near Howard University in D.C. after a fall, his daughter tweeted on Monday.
Jackson became injured while walking into the site of a student protest, the university tweeted. Jackson’s nonprofit, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, told CNN on Tuesday that Jackson had fallen and hit his head.
According to the tweet, Jackson was meeting with the university administrators, who promptly took him to the hospital.
While meeting with various administrators, including Dr. Wayne Frederick, Rev. Jackson sustained an injury upon entering the Blackburn Center. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rev. Jesse Jackson and his family at this time.
— Howard University (@HowardU) November 2, 2021
We can confirm that Rev. Jackson was taken to the hospital by a university administrator and was later joined by Dr. Wayne Frederick. Our prayers are with the Jackson family.
— Howard University (@HowardU) November 2, 2021
Family, he's resting comfortably & doing well: we thank u 4 ur prayers! Fighting 4 u is what he'll always do. His goal is 2 ensure the well-being of@HowardU students: #MissionAccomplished
Rev. Jesse Jackson falls while helping Howard U student protesters https://t.co/1X9zohjbgJ
— Santita Jackson (@SantitaJ) November 2, 2021
It remains unclear what caused Jackson to fall. However, Jackson has previously spoken about his difficulty walking. In September, he told a CNN affiliate, “Thank God for leading the way to get me again to walk again on my own power.”
Jackson, 80, has been faced numerous health scares for the last four years.
At the time of the CNN interview, Jackson was receiving “intensive occupational and physical therapy” while recovering from coronavirus, according to a statement by his son Jonathan Jackson. He and his wife had each tested positive earlier that month.
In January, Jackson went to the hospital for gallbladder surgery, his spokesperson told The Associated Press the following month.
In 2017 Jackson released a statement about his struggle with Parkinson’s disease. The disease can be exacerbated by coronavirus and can hamper one’s ability to walk.
According to his daughter, Jackson was joining Howard students in protesting the living conditions of the dorm rooms at the historically black college, which were allegedly full of rats and roaches.
People magazine reached out to Rainbow PUSH Coalition for comment, but the coalition didn’t immediately respond.
This is what WAYNE AI FREDERICK said to me when I emailed him about having no heat during a record cold winter and rats and roaches in my room… In 2018 #BlackburnTakeover this been an on going issue with housing https://t.co/zRR06sWVeu
— Ki 👑 (@ki_bydesign) November 1, 2021
Read more: Jesse Jackson rushed to the hospital for COVID
The Horn editorial team