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) →

Video: 'This day in history…

(Saturday, June 8, 1968, 11:15 p.m. BST; during the Civil rights movement) — James Earl Ray, a fugitive from the Missouri State Penitentiary wanted in the Apr. 4, 1968, slaying of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was arrested this morning at London’s Heathrow Airport while attempting to leave the United Kingdom for Brussels (on his way to either Angola, Rhodesia or apartheid South Africa) on a false Canadian passport. Continue reading Suspect in King assassination seized in London 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 8 1968) →

Video: 'The Case of James Byrd, Jr'

(Sunday, June 7, 1998, early morning CDT) — An African-American man was murdered early today when three white supremacists dragged him for three miles behind a pick-up truck along an asphalt road in Jasper, Texas. Continue reading African-American man dragged to his death in Texas 20 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 7 1998) →

Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Poor People’s March on Washington at 44:35)

(Thursday, May 2, 1968, 7:00 p.m. CDT; during the Civil rights movement) — The Poor People’s Campaign, postponed after the Apr. 4, 1968, assassination of Martin Luther King, began tonight as more than 1,000 demonstrators moved to the Quitman County Courthouse in Marks Mississippi. Continue reading Poor People’s March on Washington begins 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 2 1968) →

Video: 'AFSCME Martin Luther King Documentary 'I Am A Man' Memphis Sanitation Strike' (strike ends at 8:31)

(Tuesday, April 16, 1968; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the Civil rights movement) — The bitter sanitation strike that had brought the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis and his death from a sniper’s bullet on Apr. 4, 1968, ended today after 65 days. Continue reading Sanitation strike that brought King to Memphis ends 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1968) →

Video: 'Dr. King's Funeral Service'

(Tuesday, April 9, 1968, 10:30 a.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Funeral services were held today in Atlanta for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., beginning with a private service for family and friends at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King and his father had both served as senior pastors, five days after the civil rights leader was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading Funeral services for MLK begin in Atlanta 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 9 1968) →