Thousands converging on Louisville for Muhammad Ali funeral
Tens of thousands of people are gathering in Louisville, Kentucky, from around the world on Friday to pay their final respects to boxing legend and cultural icon Muhammad Ali. The full-day commemoration begins at 9 a.m., with a motorcade carrying Ali's body past his childhood home, then other landmarks associated with Ali, ending at Cave Hill Cemetery, where Ali will be interred in a private ceremony. The public interfaith memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. at KFC Yum! Center, with eulogies from former President Bill Clinton and Billy Crystal, and expected words from Ali's family, Malcolm X's daughter, and sports journalist Bryant Gumbel. Ali's pallbearers include boxers George Foreman, Larry Holmes, and Lennox Lewis, plus Will Smith, who played Ali in a 2001 movie.
On Thursday, Ali was celebrated at a private Islamic prayer service, or a Jenazah, attended by about 14,000 people, including boxing promoter Don King, Yusaf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens), Lewis, and Jesse Jackson. Friday's memorial service will be broadcast on ESPN, TV One, and Bounce TV, and livestreamed at ESPN and TV One. You can watch scenes from the Islamic service, curated by The Associated Press, below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published