The Civil Rights Movement: Martin Luther King Jr.
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated by James Earl Ray while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. King had traveled to Memphis to support the sanitation workers' strike and was staying at the motel with other civil rights leaders. The assassination of King shocked the nation and sparked riots in over 100 cities across the United States.
James Earl Ray was a fugitive from the Missouri State Penitentiary when he assassinated King. Ray had a history of criminal activity and had previously escaped from prison. Ray was able to evade authorities for several months after the assassination, but was eventually apprehended in London and extradited to the United States. He pleaded guilty to the murder of King and was sentenced to 99 years in prison, where he died in 1998.
Following King's assassination, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 was passed, which prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing on the basis of race, religion, or national origin. The act was seen as a tribute to King's legacy and a continuation of his work for civil rights.
King's assassination was a devastating blow to the Civil Rights Movement and to the nation as a whole. However, his legacy and message of nonviolent resistance continue to inspire people around the world to this day.
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