As we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day it is important to remember why the Reverend King was in Memphis, Tennessee. On the eve of his assassination on April 3, 1968 he delivered his memorable, I've Been to the Mountaintop speech in support of the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike.
The sanitation workers of the Memphis Department of Public Works voted to go on strike after repeated attempts to grieve horrific working conditions. The deaths of two garbage collectors, Echol Cole and Robert Walker caused by a malfunction of the dilapidated truck sparked their decision to go out on strike.
The Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike was met with violence, arrests and tear gas ordered by the Mayor of Memphis. Mayor Loeb called in the National Guard and declared Martial Law. Dr. King was in Memphis in support of the peaceful striking employees.
Unfortunately, Martin Luther Kings, Jr. was killed the next evening on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. Dr. King stood firm in his belief until the end of his life that economic justice is critical for all citizens, regardless of the color of their skin or religion.
On April 8, 1968 some 42,000 people led by Coretta Scott King marched throughout Memphis in peaceful protest, The strike ended when the city agreed to recognize the union and met some demands for better working conditions and pay. Nonetheless, the union had to continue its efforts to force the city to make good on their agreement.
Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1964. He is the youngest person to have received the Peace Prize.
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