More than 10,000 people marched in Memphis Wednesday to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. At 6:01 p.m., a moment of silence was held, then bells tolled 39 times, once for each year he lived. Gatherings were held across Memphis featuring associates of King as well as today’s civil rights leaders, who said King’s dream has still not been realized. This is the Reverend William Barber, who’s leading the new Poor People’s Campaign.
Rev. William Barber: “Black people are shot in the street by police, and others—and many other people die from low wealth and low income. Nothing would be more tragic than for us now, so we must be the resurrection.”
California Democratic Congressmember Barbara Lee was also in Memphis for the anniversary of King’s assassination.
Rep. Barbara Lee: “Each and every one of us must be engaged to be that light that outshines this darkness of chaos coming from the White House. And we must show the world that while an assassin’s bullet killed the dreamer on this sacred ground, on this day 50 years ago, he did not kill the dream.”
