On Thursday, Dec. 5, the revered activist Nelson Mandela, who devoted his life to ending the system of apartheid, died at the age of ninety-five. Although having held the presidency for only five years, Mandela has been extremely influential in inspiring politicians as well as being a symbol of resistance and hope for Africans throughout the world.

Most notably known for leading South Africa away from the horrible system of apartheid, Mandela began his fight with protests. In 1950 Mandela became the president of the African National Congress (ANC). Through the ANC, Mandela organized protests to bring light to the monstrous treatment of African Americans in his country. Like Ghandi, Mandela had worked hard to bring about understanding and change through peaceful methods.

In 1962 Mandela was arrested and sent to prison for nearly twenty-seven years, during which he was brutally abused. Finally released in 1990, Mandela was immediately readmitted into the ANC. Four years later he became the first black South African president.

South African President Jacob Zuma announced that there would be a state funeral held in Mandela’s honor on Sunday, Dec. 15, in Mandela’s ancestral hometown of Qunu in the Eastern Cape province. “Sunday will be a national day of prayer and reflection, in which people throughout the nation will gather in places of worship to conduct prayer services and meditation reflecting on the life of Mandela,” said Zuma via CNN. Zuma did not announce the specific cause of Mandela’s death, but he had been battling pneumonia and other lung ailments for the past six months, and had been in and out of the hospital. On the grass near Mandela’s home in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton, children spelled out with rocks, “We love you Mandela.”

In honor of Mandela in the US, President Barack Obama said that he and his wife Michelle will be visiting South America in order to pay their respects. “His commitment to transfer power and reconcile with those who jailed him set an example that all humanity should aspire to,” a grim President Obama said Thursday evening to New York Times Reporters, describing Mr. Mandela as an “influential, courageous, and profoundly good” man who inspired millions — including himself — to a spirit of reconciliation.

Word of Mandela’s death spread quickly as his name began to appear everywhere on Twitter, Facebook, and on online news publications. “You were one of the last examples for the struggle for justice in your country but also for all people,” said Southwest Sophomore Laye Kwamina. Memorials for Mandela have begun to spring up throughout the country and flags are being flown at half-mast to show respect for our great departed hero. “Nelson Mandela was a champion for justice and human dignity with unmatched grace,” said  United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “I’ll remember him as Madiba, truly an unconquerable soul.”