Over 20,000 mourners lined up Thursday to pay their respects to the late Senator Edward Kennedy as his body lay in repose within a flag-draped coffin at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. Police reported 6,000 people were still in line as of midnight to get inside. The library stayed open until 2:00 a.m. to accommodate the crowds.

Robert Kennedy, Jr., Senator Kennedy’s nephew: “It reflects the concerns that he had for the working people and the poor people and an idealistic vision of our country, and that a lot of people believed in that. It’s a very touching outpouring for every member of my family.”

Mourners included the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Rev. Jesse Jackson: “We mourn his passing, celebrate his living. We’re deeply in the debt of Ted Kennedy for his record of high-risk service. When he voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to end legislative Jim Crow, that was tyranny territory. For that, his brothers were killed, Dr. King killed, Medgar Evers killed. When he voted for the Voting Rights Act, he changed the American political landscape. When many would dip out an ocean with a bucket, he built a canal. He changed the course.”

A funeral for Sen. Kennedy will be held tomorrow in Boston. He will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.