Martin Luther King Jr. Assassinated
On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader of the American civil rights movement, was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. King was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel when he was shot by James Earl Ray, a fugitive and known racist. The bullet struck King in the jaw and severed his spinal cord Martin Luther King Jr. He was pronounced dead an hour later at the age of 39.
Dr. King had traveled to Memphis to support striking sanitation workers, continuing his lifelong fight for economic justice and racial equality. His presence was part of a broader movement known as the Poor People’s Campaign, which aimed to address poverty across racial lines in America Martin Luther King Jr.
News of King’s death sent shockwaves throughout the nation, triggering an outpouring of grief and anger. Riots erupted in over 100 U.S. cities, highlighting the deep racial divisions that still plagued the country. Political leaders called for calm, while President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a national day of mourning.
Dr. King’s assassination marked a devastating loss for the civil rights movement, but his legacy lived on. His philosophy of nonviolence, powerful speeches, and leadership inspired generations to come. Today, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a national holiday in the United States, and King remains a symbol of hope, justice, and peace around the world.
