Photos: Thousands Line the Streets as Muhammad Ali is Buried
It was an overpowering show of love and emotions as Louisville said goodbye to its most famous son, Muhammad Ali, on Friday.
Tens of thousands took to the sweltering streets, cheering, applauding, fist-pumping, throwing flowers at Ali’s hearse, chanting “Ali, Ali, Ali.”
Even in death he showed the world he was The Greatest.
They filed out in their thousands to honour their greatest son. Image: Mirror
On Louisville’s Main Street, Ali’s famous quotes “I am The Greatest” and “Float like a butterfly sting like a bee” were chalked in big letters along the pavement.
Throughout the city all week, flags had flown at half-mast on public buildings. There were posters on bridges and banners hanging off lampposts saying “Louisville Honors Our Champ.”
Iron Mike was one of the pallbearers
Former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis was also a pallbearer
A plane flew across the clear blue sky trailing a banner “Mohammad Ali – The Greatest.” The same words that were flashed up on the front of every bus.
It was a an occasion that united the world as Ali had wished, with speeches from protestant minister Kevin Cosby, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Rabbi Joe Rapport and Mormon Senator Orrin.
Will Smith greets a fan
Arnold Schwarzenegger was also at the memorial
US politicians and foreign dignitaries including King Abdullah II of Jordan were present.
Family eulogies were read by Ali’s widow Lonnie, family friend John Ramsey and two of his nine children, daughters Rasheda and Maryum, who described her father as “a big ball of love”.
Ali’s widow, Lonnie
Other speakers were Ali’s long-time pal, comedian Billy Crystal, Malcolm X’s daughter Attallah Shabazz and sportscaster Bryant Gumbel. President Barack Obama, who was at his daughter’s graduation, sent a heart-felt message.
Without a doubt, we will never see his like again.
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