Speaking at the funeral will be representatives of many faiths, including Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Mormonism and Catholicism. He wanted everyone to be able to attend.
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As for her thoughts on her father’s unwavering confidence, Ali said she’s unsure where the boxing legend picked it up, but feels it is something that she has acquired through the years, too.
His family were summoned to his bedside as he suffered multiple organ failure and said their final farewells as Ali slipped away.
“We hope the world will be inspired to live up to the values of Ali which were compassion and unity and bringing people together, lifting people up”.
Ali, who died Friday at age 74, was an active member of Michael J. Fox Foundation, a nonprofit Fox founded to help find a cure for the progressive brain disease that affects millions worldwide.
Instead, a procession that will go on for miles will carry Ali’s body across his hometown of Louisville, past the museum named in his honour and along the boulevard carrying his name.
“Today, we are paying tribute to the man in the heart of this city”, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
“He treated kids that he didn’t know the same as he treated us when it came to how much love he showed”, she said, noting that some of her dad’s humanitarian work focused on helping children. It was selfish for us to think that we could hold on to him forever.
“Our city, Louisville, is going to be sending him off with great class, dignity and respect”.
Among the talkers at funeral will be Malcolm X’s daughter Attalah Shabazz, wife Lonnie Ali, eldest daughter Maryum, American actor Billy Crystal, former USA president Bill Clinton and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey.
An image of Muhammad Ali and boxing gloves are left at a makeshift memorial to Ali at the Muhammad Ali Center, Monday, June 6, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. I want to know my religion better.
He told Sky Sports Ali, “was like family, like a father” to him.
Actor Will Smith, who portrayed Muhammad Ali in the movie “Ali”, and former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis are among eight pallbearers for Ali’s memorial service this week in Louisville.
They chose the venue both because it seats 18,000 and because it holds historical significance for the hometown hero.
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Ali’s cousins John Grady and Jan Wadell, nephew Ibn Ali, former brother-in-law Komawi Ali and family friend John Ramsey are the others.
