PHOTOS. Will Smith, Mike Tyson et des milliers d’anonymes rendent un dernier hommage à Mohamed Ali à Louisville

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ÉTATS-UNIS – Un corbillard transportant la dépouille de Mohamed Ali a commencé à rouler ce vendredi 10 juin dans la ville américaine de Louisville, des milliers de personnes s’étant rassemblées sur les 30 kilomètres du trajet, selon des journalistes de l’AFP sur place, après une première journée d’hommages.

Les spectateurs scandaient « Ali, Ali », en portant des pancartes, des fleurs, des ballons. Cette procession passera devant la maison où celui qui s’appelait alors Cassius Clay a grandi.

 

Pour ce dernier adieu, Toya Johnson, une Noire habitant le quartier d’enfance de Mohamed Ali, a enfilé un tee-shirt à son effigie.

« Il aurait adoré que les gens se rassemblent comme aujourd’hui, alors c’est ce que l’on fait. Je suis arrivée à 07H00 pour être sûre de pouvoir mettre ma chaise à l’ombre. Je me sens fière d’être ici », confiait-elle à l’AFP. « Il incarnait l’espoir pour tout ce quartier, les jeunes l’ont toujours pris en exemple ici et ce n’est pas fini! », ajoutait-elle.

Le cortège funéraire, d’une vingtaine de limousines, transportait notamment les nombreux enfants et petits-enfants de Mohamed Ali, ainsi que des personnalités choisies pour porter son cercueil: le comédien Will Smith et les anciens champions du monde de boxe Lennox Lewis et Mike Tyson.

La cérémonie se terminera dans un cimetière où sera inhumée dans l’intimité familiale la vedette planétaire.

Hundreds gather outside boxing legend Muhammad Ali's childhood home where mourners wait to pay their respects during a funeral procession on June 10, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky. Thousands of people from near and far were expected to line the streets of Muhammad Ali's hometown Louisville on Friday to say goodbye to the boxing legend and civil rights hero, who mesmerized the world with his dazzling skills. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON

Hundreds gather outside boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s childhood home where mourners wait to pay their respects during a funeral procession on June 10, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Thousands of people from near and far were expected to line the streets of Muhammad Ali’s hometown Louisville on Friday to say goodbye to the boxing legend and civil rights hero, who mesmerized the world with his dazzling skills. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON

A woman places flower peddles along the entrance to Cave Hill Cemetery for the funeral procession for boxing legend Muhammad Ali on June 10, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky. Ali will be laid to rest Friday, the culmination of a two-day farewell for the beloved boxing legend and civil rights hero who electrified crowds the world over. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski

A woman places flower peddles along the entrance to Cave Hill Cemetery for the funeral procession for boxing legend Muhammad Ali on June 10, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ali will be laid to rest Friday, the culmination of a two-day farewell for the beloved boxing legend and civil rights hero who electrified crowds the world over. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski

Nick Smith, of Louisville, poses for a photograph holding a drawing of Muhammad Ali as spectators wait for the arrival of Ali's funeral procession to enter Cave Hill Cemetery, Friday, June 10, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. Ali died last Friday at age 74 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Nick Smith, of Louisville, poses for a photograph holding a drawing of Muhammad Ali as spectators wait for the arrival of Ali’s funeral procession to enter Cave Hill Cemetery, Friday, June 10, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. Ali died last Friday at age 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Akera Price-King, 9, carries a sign saluting Muhammad Ali on the street in front of Ali's boyhood home Friday, June 10, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. Ali's funeral procession is scheduled to pass by the house later in the day. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Akera Price-King, 9, carries a sign saluting Muhammad Ali on the street in front of Ali’s boyhood home Friday, June 10, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. Ali’s funeral procession is scheduled to pass by the house later in the day. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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