The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, marked a crucial event in the civil rights movement and American history. King, a prominent advocate for nonviolent protest against racial segregation and discrimination, was shot in Memphis, Tennessee. His death triggered widespread riots and mourning across the United States, revealing deep-seated racial tensions and frustrations. King's assassination galvanized the civil rights movement, drawing attention to the struggle for racial equality and justice, and led to legislative progress, including the Fair Housing Act of 1968. It remains a pivotal moment in the fight for civil rights.