AP ShortDocs: The Assassination of MLK Jr., 50 Years Later

Summary

The documentary revisits the events surrounding the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 50 years later. It highlights King's involvement with the civil rights movement, particularly focusing on his plans for the Poor People's Campaign and support for striking sanitation workers in Memphis. The film captures the atmosphere on the evening of April 3rd, when King delivered his last speech, and the subsequent shock and grief following his assassination on April 4th. The documentary also delves into the immediate aftermath, including the social unrest it sparked across the United States, and the poignant funeral procession attended by thousands, underscoring King's enduring impact and legacy.

Highlights

• Martin Luther King Jr.'s last speech emphasized his unwavering commitment to non-violence and justice. 🕊️
• The assassination led to riots and demonstrations across more than a hundred U.S. cities. 🏙️
• Coretta Scott King, despite personal grief, gathered strength to face the immediate aftermath of her husband's assassination. 💔
• The funeral procession for King was a monumental event that brought together over a hundred thousand people. 🚶‍♂️
• AP reporter Catherine Johnson's exclusive access provides a rare insight into the King family's inner world post-assassination. 👀

Key Takeaways

• The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. marked a pivotal moment in American history, triggering widespread social unrest. 🏛️
• King's dedication to economic and human rights was a key element of his vision for the civil rights movement. 💪
• Coretta Scott King's strength and resilience were instrumental in continuing King's legacy after his assassination. 🌹
• The documentary provides a heartfelt narrative of King's final days and the emotional atmosphere following his death. 🎥
• AP journalist Catherine Johnson's personal account offers a unique perspective on the civil rights movement. 📰

Overview

The documentary transports us back to April 1968, vividly recounting the tragic events leading up to and following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Capturing the tense atmosphere of the time, it focuses on King's efforts in Memphis, his support for the sanitation workers' strike, and his poignant final speech. These elements form a backdrop to the loss felt across the nation upon his death, a pivotal moment galvanizing the ongoing fight for equality.

In the days following King's assassination, America was plunged into unrest, reflecting the deep societal divisions of the time. With rioting erupting in numerous cities, the nation grappled with questions of justice and reform. Through the documentary, viewers witness not just the chaos, but also the emergence of voices calling for peace and understanding, embodied in figures like Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

Central to the narrative is the resilience of Coretta Scott King, who, despite facing profound personal loss, emerged as a beacon of strength. Her role in continuing her husband's legacy is poignantly documented, as is journalist Catherine Johnson's perspective, offering a rare glimpse into the civil rights movement's dynamics from within. This narrative invites reflection on the enduring impact of King's work and the ongoing quest for civil rights.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 01:00: Introduction and Context The chapter titled 'Introduction and Context' likely sets the stage for the content that follows. It usually provides the background information necessary to understand the subsequent material. This chapter will introduce key themes, concepts, or events that frame the subject matter of the book or document. In discussing context, it may touch upon historical, cultural, or situational factors relevant to the text. The introduction often aims to engage the reader's interest and provide a roadmap for what is to follow. It clarifies the purpose and scope of the work, ensuring the reader is well-prepared for the detailed discussions and analyses in later chapters.
• 01:00 - 01:30: MLK's Return to Memphis The chapter titled 'MLK's Return to Memphis' begins with an enthusiastic applause, indicating a warm reception for Martin Luther King Jr. upon his return to the city.
• 01:30 - 02:00: The Sanitation Workers' Strike The chapter titled 'The Sanitation Workers' Strike' opens with the setting on the evening of April 3rd, 1968, in Memphis. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. had returned to the city amidst organizing efforts as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He had been working on the Poor People's Campaign, a broader initiative aimed at including economic and human rights within the civil rights movement to address the needs of impoverished Americans.
• 02:00 - 03:00: King's Last Speech The chapter titled "King's Last Speech" focuses on Martin Luther King Jr.'s efforts in Memphis, where he intended to march alongside 1300 predominantly black sanitation workers. These workers went on strike in February, demanding union recognition, dues checkoff, and a wage increase from $1.65 to $2.10 per hour. Tragically, the walkout was triggered by the deaths of two sanitation workers who were crushed inside their own garbage truck. The working conditions were described as hideous, emphasizing the dire need for change. King addressed these issues and took the pulpit to speak out against these injustices.
• 03:00 - 04:00: Assassination of MLK The chapter titled "Assassination of MLK" covers Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech at the Bishop Charles Mason Temple on April 3rd. In his speech, King aimed to gather support for a nonviolent march scheduled for April 9th, emphasizing the importance of avoiding the violence that had previously tainted their protests. As he concluded his address, King referred to his vision of the promised land and discussed the peace it brought him. Interestingly, this was not his first mention of an ominous premonition concerning his fate.
• 04:00 - 05:00: Coretta Scott King's Reaction The chapter details the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His death occurred on April 4th at around 6 p.m. on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, after which night editor Doug Stone confirmed the news. King, a 39-year-old Nobel laureate and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement, was killed by a gunshot wound to the neck.
• 05:00 - 06:00: Catherine Johnson's Experience The excerpt describes the moments leading up to the assassination of a significant figure, presumably Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The narrative captures a scene at a motel balcony where the figure was shot, leading to his demise shortly after at a hospital. Reverend Jesse Jackson is mentioned as a witness to the event, recounting how the victim was preparing for dinner before being shot. Jackson highlights the victim's last moments on the balcony, including the fact that he had just bent over, speculating that this position prevented him from being shot in the face. The description ends with the chilling detail that the victim could only utter a sound after being shot.
• 06:00 - 07:00: MLK's Funeral Coretta Scott King learns of her husband's death while waiting for a flight to Memphis. She is escorted home by police and goes into seclusion, only receiving family and close friends. Among her visitors is AP reporter Catherine Johnson, who has been covering the King family since their return to Atlanta from Montgomery in 1960 when Martin Luther King Jr. took up his post there.
• 07:00 - 08:00: Catherine Johnson's Reflection Catherine Johnson was a pioneering journalist, known for her work as the only female reporter in the Atlanta Bureau, covering stories on the civil rights movement. She reported on Mrs. King and marched alongside Dr. King, providing unique insights into the movement. Being often the only white reporter present, she had special perspectives on Dr. King’s activities and the movement. Her experiences were documented in a 2007 oral history.
• 08:00 - 09:00: Aftermath of the Assassination The chapter 'Aftermath of the Assassination' reflects on the night Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. A person recalls their personal experience, highlighting the immediate impact of the tragic news. They were on a date, heading to a movie, and were in a state of shock upon hearing the news of King's death on the radio. The night was filled with tension and sadness, amplified by the downpour of rain. This account captures the profound sense of loss and emotional turbulence experienced during that turbulent time in history.
• 09:00 - 10:00: Robert F Kennedy's Address The chapter titled 'Robert F Kennedy's Address' begins with a scene on a porch where reporters, including one from the New York Times, gather outside. A police officer restricts entrance, allowing nobody inside. The door opens, and someone exits while Coretta, recovering from major surgery, appears at the end of the hall. She is wearing a long pink robe and nightgown.
• 10:00 - 11:00: Conclusion In the chapter titled 'Conclusion', the narrative opens with the protagonist being let in by an officer after being spotted by a significant figure, presumably Coretta Scott King. The scene unfolds around the period following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with Coretta Scott King, capturing the emotional and historical gravity of this time. The chapter details the funeral events, including the service held on April 9th at 10:30 AM at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, highlighting the attendance of close family members. The personal connection and exclusive reporting of Johnson, likely a journalist, with Coretta Scott King during such an intimate and monumental period is specially mentioned, bringing a personal and human touch to the historical account.

AP ShortDocs: The Assassination of MLK Jr., 50 Years Later Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30
• 00:30 - 01:00 [Applause]
• 01:00 - 01:30 it was the evening of April 3rd 1968 and the Reverend Martin Luther King jr. had just returned to Memphis for over a year as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference he had been planning the Poor People's Campaign an attempted expansion of the civil rights movement that would include economic and human rights for poor Americans of
• 01:30 - 02:00 diverse backgrounds in Memphis that struggle was on display King planned to march with 1300 mostly black sanitation workers who had gone on strike in February seeking union recognition dues checkoff and an increase to their dollar sixty five to two dollar and ten cent an hour wage working conditions were hideous the walkout had been precipitated by the deaths of two workers who had been crushed to death inside their own garbage truck when King took the pulpit
• 02:00 - 02:30 of the bishop Charles Mason temple on April 3rd he sought to rally his supporters for a peaceful march than scheduled for April 9th he warned against the violence that had marred a previous protest lest violence overshadow the Justice of the union's cause nearing the close of his address he recurred to his vision of the promised land and of the peace that vision had brought him this was not the first time King it prophesied his own
• 02:30 - 03:00 death but it would be the last less than 24 hours later and around 6 p.m. on April 4th King was shot dead on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel where he was staying Memphis night editor Doug stone filed this urgent after confirmation from the police Nobel laureate Martin Luther King jr. father of non-violence in the American Civil Rights Movement was killed by an assassin's bullet Thursday night King 39 was hit in the neck by a
• 03:00 - 03:30 bullet as he stood on the balcony of a hotel here he died less than an hour later in st. Joseph's Hospital the Reverend Jesse Jackson said he and others in the King party were getting ready to go to dinner when the shooting occurred King was on the second floor balcony of the motel Jackson said he had just bent over if he had been standing up he wouldn't have been hit in the face a shot then rang out Jackson said the only sound King uttered after that was
• 03:30 - 04:00 Oh in Atlanta Coretta Scott King learned of her husband's death as she waited for a flight to Memphis immediately two police cars escorted her home where she went into seclusion receiving only family and close friends among them was AP reporter Catherine Johnson a native of Columbus Georgia Johnson had been covering the King family since they're returned from Montgomery to Atlanta in 1960 when King took up the post of
• 04:00 - 04:30 assistant pastor at his father's Ebenezer Baptist Church the only female reporter in the Atlanta Bureau Johnson provided feature stories on mrs. King for the state wire and while king himself was still a relative unknown in his home town Johnson began marching alongside him to report his activities a beach he quickly carved out for herself her first-hand view of King when she was often the only white person present to interview him gave her special insight into the movement he led in a 2007 oral
• 04:30 - 05:00 history interview she recalled the night King died when King was shot I was with the date and we were headed for a movie and listen to the news because everything was so hot then you listen to news wherever you were going and we heard that King was shot well we were just stunned and he turned around the car and went to the king house and I was pouring down rain on the night he was shot and I went out Lorraine went onto
• 05:00 - 05:30 the porch and there were a couple of reporters including a New York Times guy that I knew and the police officer and he said no one is allowed inside and no reporters and so the door opened and let somebody out and Coretta was at the end of the hall and she she had was recovering from major surgery and she was ahead on a long pink rose pink robe and a nightgown and she said
• 05:30 - 06:00 she spotted me and she said let Katherine in so he did the officer let me and I was on one that got in and she said she was going to go and she's go lie down Johnson was the only reporter with Coretta Scott King from the assassination of her husband to his burial on April 9th at 10:30 in the morning King's funeral began with a three-hour service at Ebenezer Baptist Church it was attended by close family
• 06:00 - 06:30 friends colleagues of King and members of the congregation following the mass Johnson hopped onto the roof of Kings waiting hearse to get a better view of the dignitaries as they emerged a silent procession of over a hundred thousand people formed to accompany Kings casket as it was borne by two mules on a wooden farm wagon down Auburn Avenue to the gravesite at Morehouse College it was then that it
• 06:30 - 07:00 hit Johnson how transforming an experience it had been covering Martin Luther King when I grew up as I said we had a nurse whom we loved dearly and we had a young man and we played with his two children he would be twin sons when they were growing up but I did not know any other blacks except you know a servants and dr. King really was so brilliant my sense of justice and humanity was really aroused it was
• 07:00 - 07:30 aroused by covering the movement the assassination of Martin Luther King sparked the greatest wave of social unrest since the Civil War riots demonstrations window breaking and the torching of buildings broke out in more than a hundred US cities killing thirty-five and injuring more than 2,500 Democratic primary contenders Senator Robert F Kennedy had just landed in
• 07:30 - 08:00 Indianapolis for a campaign rally in the heart of the African American ghetto when he got word of Kings death although his aides sought to shield him from potential violence Kennedy insisted he keep his commitment and informed the crowd Irwin J Miller of the Indianapolis Bureau and Joseph E mobic traveling with Kennedy covered his 2-minute address many sobbed and cried openly in disbelief as Kennedy spoke we can move in that direction as a
• 08:00 - 08:30 country in greater polarization black people amongst blacks and white amongst whites filled with hatred toward one another Kennedy said or we can make an effort as Martin Luther King did to understand and to comprehend and replace that violence that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land with an effort to understand compassion and love [Music]
• 08:30 - 09:00 [Music] ow [Applause] [Music]
• 09:00 - 09:30 [Music] [Music]
• 09:30 - 10:00 [Music] [Music]