Rumors Rep. John Lewis has died are untrue, spokesman says

SELMA, ALABAMA - MARCH 01:  Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) is held aloft by Rev. Al Sharpton and others as he speaks to the crowd at the Edmund Pettus Bridge crossing reenactment marking the 55th anniversary of Selma's Bloody Sunday on March 1, 2020 in Selma, Alabama. Mr. Lewis marched for civil rights across the bridge 55 years ago. Some of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates attended the Selma bridge crossing jubilee ahead of Super Tuesday. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Credit: Joe Raedle

Credit: Joe Raedle

SELMA, ALABAMA - MARCH 01: Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) is held aloft by Rev. Al Sharpton and others as he speaks to the crowd at the Edmund Pettus Bridge crossing reenactment marking the 55th anniversary of Selma's Bloody Sunday on March 1, 2020 in Selma, Alabama. Mr. Lewis marched for civil rights across the bridge 55 years ago. Some of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates attended the Selma bridge crossing jubilee ahead of Super Tuesday. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

BREAKING NEWS JULY 18: John Lewis, civil rights hero, Georgia congressman, dies at 80

PREVIOUS STORY FROM JULY 11: U.S. Rep. John Lewis’s chief of staff said there is no truth to posts on social media that he passed away today.

“It’s only rumors,” Michael Collins told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He is resting comfortably at home.”

A blog that focuses on news about historically black colleges & universities and U.S. Rep. Alma Adams of North Carolina were among those who posted that Lewis had died.

Adams deleted her post and offered an apology, saying she had offered condolences based on an erroneous news report. HBCUBuzz deleted its posts and article, which many pointed to as the originator of the rumors. No Lewis sources are cited in the HBCUBuzz post.

Lewis, 80, is undergoing treatment for advanced stage pancreatic cancer. As a result, he has used a proxy to cast votes in Congress and his public appearances have been very limited.

Last month, he toured Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington.

Lewis is considered one of the last living leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. Last week, a documentary about Lewis titled "Good Trouble" debuted nationally.

Read more: Capturing John Lewis’ voice

Also: John Lewis participated in Bloody Sunday reenactment in Selma