The prominent civil rights activist assassinated in 1968 was Martin Luther King Jr. He was a pivotal leader in the American civil rights movement, advocating for nonviolent resistance to combat racial segregation and injustice. His assassination occurred on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while he was there to support a sanitation workers' strike. King's death shocked the nation and resulted in widespread riots and demonstrations, further drawing attention to the civil rights struggle. His legacy continues to inspire movements for social justice and equality worldwide, and he is celebrated every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.