Oral+History+Report

Martin Luther King's Assassination and the Riots Following in Washington D.C.

The most prominent civil rights leader of the 20th century, Martin Luther King, was assassinated at the age of 39 on April 4, 1968. Prior to his assassination, King was participating and speaking at a sanitation strike in Memphis, Tennessee. Waving from a balcony at the Loraine motel on the second floor, King was shot in the neck, and died about shortly following. James Earl Ray was convicted of the murder and imprisoned for 99 years. However, there were many doubts if he was the assassin. Following the death of Ray in prison, they came to the conclusion that the assassination was the work of many conspirators, rather than a single person.

Shocking the nation, civilians were angered at the assassination of their most prominent civil right leader. Many riots began across the country, including Chicago and Washington D.C. Primarily, however, riots took place in urban areas. These horrible riots killed an estimated 46 people, and left thousands of others injured.

Many riots were posted on the news, talked about on the radio, and a conservation starter. They led to unrest from the civilians, and a depressed mood across the country. As well, the riots changed the daily life of many civilians, and according to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/06/AR2008040602110.html, the riots "were a touchstone, a moment in their lives as compelling as Dec. 7, Nov. 22, Sept. 11."

RESEARCH NOTES

INTERVIEW

REFLECTION

Nightly News from After King's Death media type="youtube" key="cmOBbxgxKvo" height="385" width="480"

News 40 years later looking back media type="youtube" key="-CE29tBGb-Y" height="385" width="480"

BIBLIOGRAPHY


 * "More Recollections of D.C. Riots Following King's Death - washingtonpost.com."//washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2010. .
 * Bal, Vidula. "THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., ASSASSINATION - The Museum of Broadcast Communications." //The Museum of Broadcast Communications//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2010. .
 * "Martin Luther King - Biography." //Nobelprize.org//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 June 2010. .