The famous civil rights leader assassinated in 1968 was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement and advocated for nonviolence and civil disobedience in the pursuit of racial equality. Dr. King is perhaps best known for his role in organizing significant events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Birmingham Campaign, and the March on Washington, where he delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. His assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, marked a tragic moment in American history, igniting further activism and reflection on civil rights.