As hundreds continued to bring flowers and balloons to a growing memorial outside of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday (June 5), many had an opportunity to go inside the center and see the boxing champion’s memorabilia on display there.
Ali, who had long suffered from Parkinson’s syndrome which impaired his speech and made the once-graceful athlete almost a prisoner in his own body, died on Friday (June 3) at age 74.
Ali’s belongings and photographs and an interactive exhibition inspired some visitors to talk about his legacy.
“He fought for all of us whether it would be a minority, a woman, a Christian, a Muslim whatever it is that I recognize as, and I think that it is important that we will continue to just fight for what we believe in. And, you know, we are all different but we are all here together, and we are all on this planet as a one, so we just have to stay united and keep fighting,” said Redell Atkinson, who came from Virginia to pay tribute to the former heavyweight great.
The death of Ali, known as much for his political activism as his boxing brilliance, triggered a worldwide outpouring of affection and admiration for one of the best-known figures of the 20th century.
The cause of death was septic shock due to unspecified natural causes, a family spokesman said on Saturday (June 4).
Despite Ali’s failing health, his youthful proclamation that he was “the greatest” rang true until the end for millions of people around the world who respected him for his courage both inside and outside the ring.
Along with a fearsome reputation as a fighter, Ali spoke out against racism, war and religious intolerance, while projecting an unshakable confidence that became a model for African-Americans at the height of the civil rights era and beyond.
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016