Kennedy - King Memorial
Posted by: 
Muirwoody
N 39° 47.449 W 086° 08.780
16S E 573091 N 4404888
Quick Description: A memorial park where Robert F. Kennedy announced to a large group that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated.
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 8/17/2005 5:29:23 PM
Waymark Code: WM70
Views: 122
Long Description:
On April 4, 1968 as a stop on his campaign for the Presidency,
Senator Robert F. Kennedy was scheduled to speak to a group of
2,500 mostly African-American's at a neighborhood park in
Indianapolis. Just before he appeared he was told about Dr. King's
assassination - nobody in the crowd had heard about it yet.
Although his security staff urged him to cancel, Kennedy went on to
the crowd who had waited for 2 hours in a cold rain. He began by
saying "I have very sad news for all of you. Martin Luther King was
shot and killed tonight." The crowds reaction was intense -
suffering and crying. Kennedy urged the spectators to not "meet
violence with violence" and urged them to go home and pray for Dr.
King's family. His calming words were, in part, credited with
Indianapolis being the only major urban city in the north that did
not experience riots following Dr. King's death.
The Memorial, A Landmark for Peace, designed by Indiana
artist Greg Perry includes the pieces sculpted by Daniel Edwards
and is located near where Sen. Kennedy made his speech one block
west of 17th St. and College Ave.
Post an original picture you take during your visit to log this
waymark.