April 4, 1968 Memphis, Tennessee

In February 1968, one thousand Memphis sanitation workers—almost all of whom were Black—went on strike. Their wages were between $1.80 and $2.10 per hour, slightly higher than the federal minimum wage of $1.60. But when two workers were crushed to death on the job, there was no workers’ compensation for their families. The workers went on strike. The mayor of Memphis called their strike illegal and said he would fire the workers if they did not return to work. The Memphis black community called on Dr. Martin Luther King for help.

King came to led a march of five thousand on city hall on March 18. When youths at the rear of the march began breaking windows and looting stores on Beale Street, the police charged the marchers. One marcher was killed and sixty-two were wounded.

King returned to Memphis on April 3 to address a mass meeting in support of another march. He closed his speech by saying,

“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop.... And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. And I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

The following day, as he stood on the balcony of Lorraine Hotel, Dr. King was assassinated by James Earle Ray. We still mourn that terrible loss.

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