[1968 WASHINGTON, D.C. POST-MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ASSASSINATION RIOTS ]

Year Published: 1968

Description: The film depicts the violent riots in Washington, D.C. that erupted following the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. Over four days, the city experienced significant unrest, part of a larger wave of riots affecting at least 110 U.S. cities, with Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Baltimore seeing the most intense participation. In response, President Lyndon B. Johnson deployed the National Guard to restore order. The riots resulted in 13 deaths, around 1,000 injuries, and over 6,100 arrests. The film features graphic footage of police confrontations with African American protestors, destruction of property, and the presence of military forces.