The assassination occurred while Dr. King, a prominent civil rights leader and advocate for nonviolent protest, stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. At 6:05 P.M he was shot and killed by James Earl Ray. News of King’s assassination prompted major outbreaks of racial violence, resulting in more than 40 deaths nationwide and extensive property damage in over 100 American cities.
It was reported by a local ABC news station in Memphis that Dr. King’s daughter, Dr. Bernice King, spoke about her father’s lasting power, and his unfinished business 55 years after his assassination. “As we think about this day, I think it’s important that we always remember where Dr. King was focusing his attention because as you look at the triple evils that he talked about, that being poverty, militarism and racism, we have made little progress,” she said.
The universal message of Dr. King was about unjust effects of generational poverty denying decent affordable housing, quality schools, and the opportunities to have opportunities. Financial hardship is financial hardship regardless of your color or creed.
As we see, once again, banks get bailed out as everyday Americans languish in financial ruin. In these past 5 decades since Dr. King walked among us, it is the link to his crusade around income inequality, corporate greed and how wealth is distributed. Just as Dr. King urged “a kind of dangerous unselfishness” so that everyone’s life is not merely for themselves but for others too. That is what our founder at The Dakota Center also believed. That we are bridge-builders by serving others all the time, and not just on special occasions.
