Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa ordered flags at city buildings lowered to half-staff in honor of the civil rights leader and widow of Dr. Martin Luther King. She died at age 78 while seeking treatment for ovarian cancer at the Santa Monica Health Institute in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. Former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young broke the news in a phone call to the "Today" show this morning.

Villaraigosa's statement:

MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA'S STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF CORETTA SCOTT KING

Today, our hearts ache at the news of the loss of Coretta Scott King.

Few Americans gave more for this country, sacrificed with greater courage, or played a more central role in moving this nation toward the dream of full freedom and equality.

Coretta Scott King was a pioneer*and a leading partner*in the great moral struggle of our time.

She challenged us to see America's fight for civil rights in the broader context of international human rights.

She raised four wonderful children, but she did even more than that--she accepted the larger responsibility as the mother of a movement, and she guided us all.

And after the tragedy in Memphis, she asked that we not just preserve Dr. King's memory; in the face of her own tragedy and loss, she spent her life working tirelessly to carry out their shared legacy.

When Coretta Scott King was a young woman, she studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. She gave up this career when she married Dr. King, but she never stopped challenging us to hear the music.

Thank you, Coretta Scott King. God bless you, Coretta Scott King. And may God bless the entire King family.

Mayor Villaraigosa ordered that all flags at City of Los Angeles buildings be flown at half-staff in memory and in honor of Coretta Scott King.