Video: 'James Earl Ray Pleads Guilty - 1969 | Today In History | 10 Mar 17'

(Monday, March 10, 1969; during the Civil rights movement) — James Earl Ray pleaded guilty today in Memphis to the assassination of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968.

A jury (of ten white and two black members) determined the sentence without the option of capital punishment and recommended a 99 year jail sentence.

Video: 'Martin Luther King Jr. - Civil Rights Leader | Mini Bio | Biography'

(Tuesday, January 15, 1929, just past noon EST) — Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1954 until his death in 1968, was born today in his family’s home at 501 Auburn Avenue, N.E. in Atlanta, Georgia. Continue reading Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. born in Atlanta 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 15 1929) →

Video: 'Tommie Smith and John Carlos during American anthem'

(Wednesday, October 16, 1968, 7:15 p.m. CST; during the Civil Rights movement) — African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists tonight in a “Black Power” salute during the ceremony in which they received their track medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City, saying they did it to “show black people are united.” Continue reading Two American sprinters give ‘black power’ salute at Olympics 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 16 1968) →

Video: 'If MLK Sneezed (MLK's Last Speech)'

(Saturday, September 20, 1958, 3:30 p.m. EDT; during the Civil rights movement) — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., an African-American civil rights leader who urges his race to practice non-violent resistance to segregation, was stabbed today by an African-American woman in Blumstein’s department store in Harlem. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. stabbed, nearly dies 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 20 1958) →

Video: 'Part 1 of "50 years later: How race and rebellion sparked the Glenville shootout"'

(Tuesday, July 23, 1968, 8:25 p.m. EDT; during the civil rights movement) — The Glenville shootout, a four-hour gun battle between the Cleveland Police Department and the Black Nationalists of New Libya, a Black Power group, began tonight in the Glenview section of the city Continue reading Glenville shootout begins in Cleveland 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 23 1968) →

Video: 'James Earl Ray's Arrival in Memphis, July 19, 1968'

(Friday, July 19, 1968, 3:48 a.m. CDT; during the Civil rights movement) — James Earl Ray, a fugitive from the Missouri State Penitentiary wanted in the Apr. 4, 1968, assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., arrived back in the United States today on a U.S. Air Force C-135 after almost six weeks incarceration in London’s Wandsworth Prison. Continue reading King assassin Ray returned to U.S. 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 19 1968) →

Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (June 24, 1968, at 53:58)

(Monday, June 24, 1968, shortly after 11:00 a.m. EDT; during the Civil rights movement) — Police in Washington, D.C., closed down a shantytown known as “Resurrection City,” today, evicting some 500 remaining members of the Poor People’s Campaign from West Potomac Park. Continue reading D.C. police close Resurrection City 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 24 1968) →

Video: 'Coretta Scott King Speaks! Solidarity Day at Resurrection City'

(Wednesday, June 19, 1968, scheduled for noon-4:30 p.m. EDT; during the Poor People’s Campaign, part of the Civil rights movement) — A multiracial crowd of more than 50,0000 Americans marched on Washington today to emphasize their demand for a just share of affluence and dignity for African-Americans, Spanish-speaking minorities, Native Americans and poor whites. Continue reading 50,000+ march against poverty 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 19 1968) →