Robert Kennedy’s Remarks Upon the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A Eulogy for Dr. King Robert Kennedy’s Remarks Upon the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The 1960’s were a very turbulent time. We were embroiled in an unpopular war with Vietnam. Many felt we needed to fight the spread of Communism; others felt we should stay out of another country’s civil war. Our country also found itself in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement as black Americans demanded fair and equal treatment under the law.

There were inspirational times where hopes and dreams soared There were inspirational times where hopes and dreams soared. For example, on August 28, 1963, Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

There were times where the turbulence turned to violence. As the war protests of the 1960’s continued into the next decade, four student protestors were killed at Kent State University, May 4, 1970. Through two decades, Civil Rights Activists faced angry and often violent opposition to their lawfully organized protests.

Even the President of the United States was not safe as President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963.

Dr. King may very well have seen his own fate foretold in the killing of President Kennedy and also failed attempts on his own life. On April 3, 1968, Dr. King delivered a speech that has come to be known as his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech to rally striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dr. King ends the speech with what now seem like prophetic words. Dr Dr. King ends the speech with what now seem like prophetic words. Dr. King compares himself to the Biblical Moses, who led his people out of bondage, but who was never able to enter the promised land with his people: “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!”

Dr. King was shot the next day as he walked along the balcony of his Memphis hotel.

How would the nation respond? In Indianapolis, Robert F. Kennedy planned to speak at a political rally seeking support for his bid for the Presidency. How would he handle the news of Dr. King’s death?

Now let’s look at Robert Kennedy’s speech that calmed what could have become an angry mob. Turn in your Language of Literature Book to pp. 136-137. You may wish to follow along as you view the video of his speech. Following your viewing of this speech, you will complete an analysis sheet of the speech.

In a sad irony, only two months later, Robert Kennedy was assassinated at a political rally in Los Angeles, California, on June 5, 1968.

In 1994, the Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department established a monument to honor two great men who worked tirelessly for peace and understanding.