"Amid the tragedy of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, April 4, 1968, an extraordinary moment in U.S. political history occurred as Robert F. Kennedy, younger brother of slain President John F. Kennedy, broke the news of King's death to a large gathering of African Americans in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The gathering was actually a planned campaign rally for Robert Kennedy in his bid to get the 1968 Democratic nomination for President. Just after he arrived by plane at Indianapolis, Kennedy was told of King's death. He was advised by police against making the campaign stop which was in a part of the city considered to be a dangerous ghetto. But Kennedy insisted on going.
He arrived to find the people in an upbeat mood, anticipating the excitement of a Kennedy appearance. He climbed onto the platform, and realizing they did not know, broke the news."
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Say a prayer for our own country, which all of us love ...
The History Place is an archive of great speeches and other ... stuff. Take a moment right now to follow this link and read and/or listen to the audio clip it contains. Barack Obama reminds us of the power of words and oratory ... maybe that is not so hard after almost 8 years of GW Bush. But with the 40th anniversary of his death tomorrow, April 4, reflect not only on Martin Luther King, but also on another man who touched greatness, Robert Kennedy.
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