The chief of staff for Rep. John Lewis, Michael Collins, says that the stories on social media about the politician’s death are untrue, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“It’s only rumors,” Collins said. “He is resting comfortably at home.”
READ MORE: Rep. John Lewis announces that he is battling stage four pancreatic cancer
The rumors are said to have originated from two online sources: HBCU Buzz and North Carolina Rep. Alma Adam’s Twitter accounts.
Both accounts have since deleted their posts, but not before the false information went viral.
Adams apologized in a follow up tweet, saying she fell for a false news report.
Adams was met with backlash by Black Twitter.
You are in trouble – your credibility is gone ?
— Pat Amador (@PatAmador1) July 11, 2020
READ MORE: Leaders react with support, expressions of love after John Lewis cancer announcement
As theGrio previously reported, Lewis, who is 80 years old, has been undertaking treatment for stage 4 pancreatic cancer since December 2019.
Lewis is a surviving leader of the Civil Rights Movement and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1963, Lewis, who was 23-years-old and a chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, was present during Rev. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Lewis participated in a Black Lives Matter protests last month in Washington.
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