First radio and television news accounts (different stations) from approximately 9:45pm EST related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, in Memphis, Tennessee.
These reports include first radio bulletins and reports.
Beginning News Bulletin Radio report related to Martin Luther King assassination.
According to Jesse Jackson a shot fired at King from a building across the street as he stood on his hotel balcony. As he was getting ready with a group of friends and associates to eat dinner when the shot was fired.
Dr. King's death comes only one night after he told associates he was not disturbed by reports that he would be subjected to physical harm while in Memphis. The civil rights leader was in the city to take charge of demonstrations in support of the city's 1300 striking garbage workers. Most of these garbage workers are negro. Las week the march led by King erupted into rioting. ONe person was killed in that rioting. There had been legal attempts in a court order to revent Dr. King from leading another demonstration in a few days. Dr. Martin Luther King and his attorneys have gone into court in an attempt to have that ban lifted. A decision was expected tomorrow. Dr. King was proclaiming the fact that the could indeed lead.
Tom Jarriel reports to ABC's Bob Young...reaction of the assassination which took place around 7:10pm...rioting in Tennessee...death of King around 8pm...President Johnson's response to the public...VP Hubert Humphrey comments, Steve Young reports from Carnegie Hall...Duke Ellington turns concert into a memorial, Ed Bradley Man on the Street reactions in Harlem to the assassination, comments from Dr. Sterling Brown, Senator Charles Percy comments...Don Hickman reports from Memphis Tennessee.
Other stations are archived at this time including the following reports:
PBS reaction of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Rioting in Tennessee...WNBC radio Charles Percy states that we must bring negroes into the mainstream of labor and business...Dick Reeves and Frank Gardner reports from WCBS News. Report that King died at 8pm EST. President Lyndon Johnson responds to the American people. Vice President Hubert Humphrey responds. King shot in the neck. One bullet . Steve Young at Carnegie Hall. Duke Ellington turns concert into a memorial. At 7:10 King was shot. Ed Bradley reports with man on the street interviews in Harlem, NY. Dr. Sterling Brown comments. Senator Charles P:ercy interviewed at the Plaza Hotel. Don Hickman reports from Memphis Tennessee. Dr. Martin Luther King, third youngest person to win the Nobel Prize. Short biography of King. Effects of Civil Rights during the Viet Nam War, view on congress and their focus on non violence.
WOR radio report. Jean Sheppard. Bill Mazer. WABC report. Lee Leonard quotes King who said "I am a dead man. The only question is when?" Discussion. Extra police are sent to Harlem. Atmosphere there is electric. James Farmer statement read by nesman. City College closed tomorrow. WVATS speech by Senator Wayne Morris. Riot ing in Memphis Tennessee. WLOK'S Tom Wat son reports. WVAI additional comments. WnBC Lee Leonard studio interview. Dick Reeves. Looting Harlem.
SP EICAL BROADCAST then NBC re orts from Memphis TN. Jesse Jackson is interviewed ...reaction when bullet hit Dr. King. Again here President Johnson speech to the nation. Late reports from Danie Schorrand King speech, "...mine eyes have seen the glory.". Hubert Humphrey quote that King "An apostle of non-violence has been the victim of violence." CBS TV Russell long interviewed by Marvin Agronsky. WINS reports. King's first filmed interview on Bus Boycott in 1961 in Montgomery Alabama. Charles Kuralt reports retrospective...King at convention during the summer of 1956...prayer pilgrimage, King on advantages of sit-ins.
NOTE: All of the above air checks audio taped were recorded off the air (television and radio) in real time, switching from one station to another...radio to TV to radio to TV, back and forth from approximately 9:45pm EST.