Indianapolis marked the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination with a variety of events to remind the city of its unique history with King’s death.
While on the campaign trail on April 4, 1968 in Indianapolis, Robert Kennedy received news of King’s assassination before taking the stage to speak. Instead of giving his planned campaign speech, Kennedy shared the news with the crowd. In his speech, Kennedy called for ending racial division and continuing to fight for King’s ideals. Many said Kennedy’s speech is a large reason why Indianapolis stayed calm after hearing news of the assassination while other cities erupted into violence.
To commemorate that significant speech, hundreds of people gathered at the Landmark for Peace Memorial in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park and listened to Kennedy’s original speech during “Still We Reach: Community Reflection and Conversation” on April 4, 2018. The event featured Kerry Kennedy, Robert Kennedy’s daughter, and Congressman John Lewis.
The day before, President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan bill, introduced by Rep. André Carson, declaring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park as the Kennedy King National Commemorative Site.
“With today’s bill signing, we are bringing much needed recognition to a site that epitomizes the ideals of Sen. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King,” Carson said at the time. “As new generations carry on the march toward civil rights, I hope that this site will serve as a reminder of the need for non-violence and tolerance in our community and world.”
Playwright, poet and English professor Angela Jackson-Brown also wrote a musical to commemorate Kennedy’s speech. The musical, “Dear Bobby: The Musical,” performed at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre, told the story of two 12-year-old girls, one Black and one Jewish, who hope to see Kennedy’s campaign speech. Just as in real life, Kennedy breaks the news of King’s death, and characters find harmony in the midst of a tragic event.
The Indianapolis International Airport also unveiled an exhibit, which shared stories from those who attended Kennedy’s speech, and the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center featured a screening of “Ripple of Hope,” a 2008 documentary featuring people who saw Kennedy’s speech, and held a discussion afterward.
Contact staff writer Ben Lashar at 317-762-7848. Follow him on twitter @BenjaminLashar.
King At Speech
