John Lewis, the iconic activist of non-violence and civil rights in the United States, a former companion of Martin Luther King, has died at the age of 80 years, announced Friday the House of representatives, of which he was part.

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" today, America mourns the loss of one of the greatest heroes of american history ", wrote the president of the House of representatives, Nancy Pelosi, in a press release. John Lewis, who suffered from cancer of the pancreas, has been parliamentary for decades after having failed to succumb under the blows of the police.