Remembering the Day Martin Luther King Jr. was Assassinated

The civil rights movement lost a giant on April 4 1968. Martin Luther King Jr. was a sign of hope for many. He was a strong voice for justice equality and peace. His death was a sad day not only for America but for the whole world. The killer of Martin Luther King Jr. shocked the country and changed the fight for civil rights for a long time.

He was in Memphis Tennessee that terrible day to back the garbage workers’ strike. Kings was there to bring national attention to the workers’ requests for fair pay and better working conditions.

The strike had been going on since February. The strike was an important part of King’s fight for economic justice which he saw as deeply connected to racial equality. King was known for always supporting peaceful protest.

Dr. King and other civil rights leaders stayed at the Lorraine Motel which was a simple place they knew well. He was outside his room on the balcony on April 4 in the evening when a gunshot went off. A nearby boarding house fired the bullet which hit King in the jaw and cut his spinal cord. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital right away but about an hour later they said he was dead. His age was only 39.

Quickly word spread across the country that King had been killed setting off waves of sadness and anger. When African Americans learned that their hero had died they reacted with anger and sadness in major towns. Around 100 towns were affected by these riots which brought to light the long-standing anger and unfair systems that King had spent his whole life trying to fix.

John King was killed by James Earl Ray who was on the run from the Missouri State Penitentiary. After initially admitting to killing the man Ray who had a long crime past later changed his story and said he was part of a bigger plot. After changing his mind he was still found guilty and given 99 years in jail. According to many conspiracy ideas King’s death may have had more to do with Ray’s acts than what happened that day.

What happened in the civil rights movement after King was killed was very influential. Within hours of the event organizers and allies felt a strong sense of loss and anxiety. There was a leadership void after King’s death because he had brought people together. Still his death sparked a movement that made many people more determined to carry on his work. People who came after him were influenced by his peaceful attitude and his goal for a fair and just society.

To respect King’s memory many things are done. As a government holiday Martin Luther King Jr. Day is marked every year on the third Monday of January. It was made official by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. As we celebrate this holiday we remember what King did for human rights and how he changed American society for good. His memory is also kept alive by places like the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C. as well as many streets and schools that are named after.

A turning point in American history happened when Martin Luther King Jr. was killed on April 4 1968. Despite the progress made during the civil rights movement it showed how deeply racial and economic injustices still existed in the United States. We lost a great leader when King died but his death also sparked more change. Those who work for justice and equality are still inspired by his lessons and his dream of a world where people are judged by their character instead of the color of their skin.

It is important to stand up for what is right even when things get hard. King’s life and work show us how powerful peaceful protest can be. Though he was killed his memory lives on and inspires people to work for a more fair and caring world. May 4 is not only a day we will always remember for losing Martin Luther King Jr. but also for the fight for civil rights and human respect that it started.

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