https://digitalresearch.bsu.edu/digitalcivilrightsmuseum/files/original/07db3b3df3d3e862898962521534962a.jpg 34fccce8b234ced8560088a64fb34e63 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Events Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Robert F. Kennedy Speech on Death of MLK, Jr. Description An account of the resource On April 4, 1968, Civil Rights leader Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. News of his passing spread throughout the country, sparking multi-day riots in over 100 cities including Washington DC, Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Detroit. The city of Indianapolis did not experience riots related to King’s assassination, in part because of an impromptu calming and unifying speech by Robert F. Kennedy.[1] The brother of the late President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy was vying for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 1968. Earlier that day, Kennedy had delivered speeches at Notre Dame University in South Bend, and Ball State University in Muncie while campaigning in Indiana. He spoke of typical campaign topics including poverty, racism, and the Vietnam War.[2] Muncie attorney Marshall Hanley told Kennedy about King’s assassination before his plane left for Indianapolis for the last campaign stop of the day. A 1969 Indianapolis Star article recorded Hanley’s recollection: “I heard the news flash over the radio and told the senator as he came to the airplane ramp…. He seemed stunned and dropped his head. ‘Is he dead?’ he asked. I said I didn't know and then he went on up the ramp to the plane."[3] Kennedy was scheduled to speak at a rally at 17th and Broadway Streets in Indianapolis, in the heart of the African American community. After arriving in Indianapolis and confirming King’s death, Kennedy proceeded to the rally spot at 9:00 pm, climbed on the back of a flatbed truck, and delivered his remarks despite fears of race riots erupting.[4] About 2,500 African Americans, many members of groups such as the Black Panthers and the Black Radical Action Project, had gathered to hear Kennedy speak. Most in the crowd had not heard of King’s death until Kennedy broke the news.[5] Instead of his planned campaign speech, Kennedy delivered personal and compassionate thoughts, uniting the crowd. Kennedy’s speech is often believed to be the reason riots did not break out in Indianapolis. He was able to calm the public, particularly the African American community, who were in shock and deeply mourning Dr. King’s death. In an act of empathy, Kennedy spoke about his own brother’s death in 1963, the first time he had done so in public. Kennedy stated: “So I ask you tonight to return home, to say a prayer for the family of Martin Luther King -- yeah, it's true -- but more importantly to say a prayer for our own country, which all of us love -- a prayer for understanding and that compassion of which I spoke.” The crowd erupted in applause after his speech.[6] The speech did not grab immediate media attention. Publisher Eugene C. Pulliam of the Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis News was not a fan of Kennedy and gave the speech as little coverage as possible. In addition, the coverage of Dr. King’s death, funeral, and ensuing nationwide riots overshadowed coverage of Kennedy’s remarks. The 637-word speech is now often listed as one of the greatest speeches in American history.[7] Robert F. Kennedy himself was assassinated on June 5, 1968 while on a California primary stop in Los Angeles, just two months after announcing Dr. King’s death to the African American community in Indianapolis. The unifying message delivered by Kennedy on April 4, 1968, is still remembered years later by those who heard his remarks in person. Jim Trulock, an Indianapolis autoworker at the time, reminisced 50 years later. “He spoke from the heart. At the time a good half of the crowd hadn’t heard of Dr. King’s assassination, so when he made that announcement you could hear this gasps amongst the crowd. I’ve heard a lot of speeches in my life, I’m 80 years old, but it was the best speech I’ve heard to this date.”[8] An Indiana Historical Bureau marker at the corner of 17th and Broadway Streets in Indianapolis commemorates the site of Kennedy’s speech.[9] The Dr. Martin Luther King Park & Landmark for Peace Memorial is also on the site and honors both King and Kennedy.[10] Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived [1] Straw, John B. “RFK in Middletown: Robert Kennedy’s Speech at Ball State University on April 4, 1968.” Robert F. Kennedy Speech Collection, Ball State University Libraries, 2005. Accessed April 21, 2020, https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/RFKen/id/23 [2] Thornbrough, Emma. Indiana Blacks in the Twentieth Century. Indiana University Press, 2000. Pp. 185. [3] Straw, John B. [4] Higgins, Will. “April, 1968: How RFK Saved Indianapolis.” Indy Star, April 2, 2015. Accessed April 17, 2020, https://www.indystar.com/story/life/2015/04/02/april-rfk-saved-indianapolis/70817218/ [5] Ibid. [6] “Robert F. Kennedy: Remarks on the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr delivered on April 4th, 1968.” American Rhetoric. Accessed April 17, 2020, americanrhetoric.com/speeches/rfkonmlkdeath.html [7] “Top 100 American Speeches of the 20th Century”, Texas A&M University. Accessed April 21, 2020, http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/dl/free/007256296x/77464/top100_only.html [8] King, Brittany. “Indianapolis and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”. Indianapolis Recorder, March 29, 2018. Accessed April 21, 2020, http://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/recorder_headlines/article_edfc8ee2-3359-11e8-81d7-7f8b9b25810b.html [9] Indiana Historical Bureau, “Robert F. Kennedy on Death of Martin L. King”. Accessed April 21, 2020, https://www.in.gov/history/markers/470.htm [10] Visit Indy, “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park & Landmark for Peace Memorial”. Accessed April 21, 2020, https://www.visitindy.com/indianapolis-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-park-landmark-for-peace-memorial Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Student Authors: Robin Johnson and Sydney Schrock Faculty/Staff Editors: Dr. Ronald V. Morris, Dr. Kevin C. Nolan, and Christine Thompson Graduate Assistant Researchers: Carrie Vachon and JB Bilbrey Relation A related resource <a href="https://www.in.gov/history/markers/470.htm">Indiana Historical Bureau: Historical Marker</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource PHOTO & VIDEO: Robert F Kennedy, attributed to Warren K. Leffler, Public domain, via Wikimedia commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_F_Kennedy_crop.jpg 1950s-present Civil Rights Movement Indianapolis Marion County Politics