Joseph Lowery landed in the hospital over the weekend.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the veteran civil rights leader is being treated for respiratory problems, but is said to be doing better and expected to be released today.

A Lowery-friend told the paper the 88-year-old was admitted to Emory University Hospital in midtown Atlanta Saturday and placed in intensive care as a precaution.

Lowery was a co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and served as its president from 1977 to 1997.

Tags: hospital, Joseph Lowery, civil rights icon, Emory University Hospital