alternatehistory.com

Apr. 5, 1968
April 5, 1968

Martin Luther King killed in Memphis

Tragedy struck last night in Memphis, Tennessee. Martin Luther King, Jr., the reverend and civil rights leader, was gunned down by an unknown assailant at his motel room. He was rushed to the hospital, but did not survive. Police are still looking for the gunman, who reportedly fled the scene. Dr. King was visiting the city to organize and participate in protests related to the sanitation strike, which has been ongoing in the city for nearly two months.

Dr. King’s murder has provoked a torrent of anger. Violence has broken out in several American cities. Chicago has seen the worst of the rioting, with 11 reported fatalities. President Johnson has sent 5,000 National Guard troops to keep the peace in Washington, DC, where a night of looting and arson has left five reported dead. In Michigan, Governor George Romney has ordered the National Guard into Detroit, which appears to have kept disorder there to a minimum. [1]

[1] All as OTL. Given the multiple attempts on King’s life in OTL, it seems unlikely that this would change: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Martin_Luther_King,_Jr. Admittedly the last two posts have been kind of lazy, but the next post will be better.
Top