Category Archives: African-American Civil Rights

President Johnson deplores ‘brutal’ murder of King 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'April 4, 1968: President Johnson addresses the nation after death of Martin Luther King Jr.'

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 9:07 p.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — U.S. President Johnson, speaking outside the entrance to the West Lobby at the White House, deplored tonight in a brief television address to the nation the “brutal slaying” of civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., 39, asking “every citizen to reject the blind violence that has struck Dr. King, who lived by non-violence.” Continue reading President Johnson deplores ‘brutal’ murder of King 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968) →

RFK makes first statement on King murder 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Homefront USA [10/11]' (Apr. 4, 1968, at 21:02)

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, at about 8:40 p.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, having arrived at Weir Cook Municipal Airport tonight in Indianapolis, Indiana, for a scheduled campaign stop, made his first public statement on the assassination of civil rights leader The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. earlier this evening in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading RFK makes first statement on King murder 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968) →

Martin Luther King Jr. pronounced dead 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: '"KENNEDYS DON'T CRY" (1975)' (Apr. 4, 1968, at 1:18:30)

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 7:05 p.m. CST; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., 39, was pronounced dead tonight, sixty-four minutes after he was shot as he stood on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. pronounced dead 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968) →

Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'MLK: The Assassination Tapes - The Aftermath of the Assassination' (click here to watch the full episode with shooting at 19:05)

(Thursday, April 4, 1968, 6:01 p.m. CST; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., 39, was fatally shot tonight as he stood on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1968) →

King delivers ‘Mountaintop’ speech 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 3 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Martin Luther King's Last Speech: "I've Been To The Mountaintop"'

(Wednesday, April 3, 1968, 9:00 p.m. CST; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — In what turned out to be his final speech, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech at a rally of striking sanitation workers at the Mason Temple (Church of God in Christ Headquarters) in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading King delivers ‘Mountaintop’ speech 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 3 1968) →

King delivers sermon at National Cathedral 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 31 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Inside Story: Who Killed Martin Luther King?' (Mar. 31, 1968, at 4:31)

(Sunday, March 31, 1968, 11 a.m. EST; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–1968) and during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution” sermon today at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., discussing plans for the Poor People’s Campaign and his opposition to the Vietnam War. Continue reading King delivers sermon at National Cathedral 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 31 1968) →

Boy, 16, killed as Memphis march turns violent 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 28 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Mar. 28, 1968, at 29:16)

(Thursday, March 28, 1968, march began shortly after 11 a.m. CST; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–1968)) — Larry Payne, a 16-year-old African-American youth, was shot to death by police today in violence surrounding a massive protest march that was led through downtown Memphis by the Rev. Dr. Martin. Luther King Jr. Continue reading Boy, 16, killed as Memphis march turns violent 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 28 1968) →

King promotes Poor People’s Campaign in Harlem 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 26 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Mar. 26, 1968, at 28:44)

(Tuesday, March 26, 1968; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. was met with some indifference today in the Harlem section of New York City as he continued his people-to-people tour of the nation to rally support for his Poor People’s Campaign. Continue reading King promotes Poor People’s Campaign in Harlem 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 26 1968) →

King rallies support for Poor People’s Campaign 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 19 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Mar. 19, 1968, at 27:10)

(Tuesday, March 19, 1968; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., returned to Marks, Mississippi, today as part of his people-to-people tour of the nation to rally support for his Poor People’s Campaign, declaring, “I want some of you all to go to Washington with us, even if you have to bring your whole family.” Continue reading King rallies support for Poor People’s Campaign 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 19 1968) →

King calls for citywide march in Memphis 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Mar. 18, 1968, at 26:10)

(Monday, March 18, 1968, after 9:00 p.m. CST; during the Memphis sanitation strike, part of the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., who was in the midst of organizing the Poor People’s Campaign, flew into Memphis today to call for a citywide march in support of striking sanitation workers. Continue reading King calls for citywide march in Memphis 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1968) →