On April 4, 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in the United States. He was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was staying for a planned march to advocate for sanitation workers' rights. King's assassination led to nationwide protests and riots, highlighting the ongoing struggle against racial injustice and inequality in America. His death marked a tragic turn in the civil rights movement. King's legacy, however, continues to inspire activism for social justice, emphasizing nonviolent resistance and the pursuit of equality for all individuals, regardless of race.