Memphis, Tennessee - April 4, 1968: The assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. occurred today, marking a tragic day in American history.
King, who had been a leading figure in the civil rights movement, was in Memphis to support a strike by African American sanitation workers. He had just delivered a speech at the Mason Temple, where he famously stated, "I've been to the mountaintop," before returning to his hotel room at the Lorraine Motel.
As he stood on the balcony of his room, King was shot and fatally wounded by a sniper. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The assassination of King was a shocking and devastating blow to the civil rights movement and to the entire nation.
In the aftermath of King's assassination, riots broke out in over 100 cities across the United States, causing widespread destruction and claiming dozens of lives. The country was thrown into a state of turmoil, and the legacy of King's work for racial equality was called into question.
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. was a tragic and senseless act of violence, and a reminder of the deep-seated racism and inequality that still exists in American society. Despite this tragedy, King's message of peace, justice, and equality continues to inspire generations of Americans and people around the world, and his legacy remains an important symbol of hope and progress.
