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Last updated on Monday, June 6, 2016
(LOUISVILLE) - Muhammad Ali will be laid to rest Friday in Louisville.
A family spokesman says Ali died of septic shock "due to unspecified natural causes." The spokesman says Ali passed away Friday at 9:10 p.m., spending the last hour of his life surrounded by his family. He was initially hospitalized in the Phoenix area on Monday.
His funeral is scheduled for Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the KFC Yum! Center. It was put in a public venue so the public can attend because, as the spokesman said, Ali was a citizen of the world and he wanted people of all walks of life to be able to attend. The funeral will be also be translated and streamed on the internet.
Eulogies will be given by former President Bill Clinton, Billy Crystal and Bryant Gumbel.
One of Muhammad Ali's daughters described her father's last moments saying his heart wouldn't stop beating for 30 minutes after all of his other organs failed. Hana Ali wrote on Instagram that "no one had even seen anything like it." She calls it a "true testament to the strength of his spirit and will."
She says the family was surrounding Ali, hugging and kissing him, holding his hands and chanting an Islamic prayer.
Black Expo leaders in Indianapolis released a statement about Ali Saturday saying, in part, "He was a humanitarian and social force that challenged the status quo based upon his moral principles and character. Muhammad Ali was a part of our family and Indiana Black Expo was blessed to have the opportunity to honor him on several occasions."
Congressman Andre Carson, D-Ind., posted a picture on his congressional website with the caption, "The world lost a true champion today. Muhammad Ali was a beacon for peace, justice and equality. He truly was the greatest."
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