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Top Stories: MLK Remembrances 50 Years After His Assassination

The Library of Congress
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963 after meeting with President Lyndon B. Johnson to discuss civil rights.

The top local stories this morning from KERA News: Events across the country will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The civil rights activist was assassinated 50 years ago, Wednesday.

In Fort Worth, a new bronze marker will be installed downtown in General Worth Square. It'll commemorate King's 1959 visit to Fort Worth where he spoke to a mixed crowd at the then-segregated Majestic Theater. That was the first time African-Americans were allowed to enter the theater's  front door and sit on the lower floor. 

Theodore Walker Jr., associate professor of ethics and society at the SMU Perkins School of Theology, reflects on what he remembers about the day of King’s assassination.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMRjICB85WI&feature=youtu.be

From NPR: When MLK Was Killed, He Was In Memphis Fighting For Economic Justice

Other stories this morning: 

  • A federal judge has ruled that Texas violated federal law by failing to register residents to vote when they apply or renew their drivers’ license information online.
  • A left-leaning grassroots organization called the East Dallas Persistent Women released a report last week about numerous errors on the website for Healthy Texas Women, a state program intended to provide low-cost women’s health services.

You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:23 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM. 

Former KERA staffer Krystina Martinez was an assistant producer. She produced local content for Morning Edition and KERANews.org. She also produced The Friday Conversation, a weekly series of conversations with North Texas newsmakers. Krystina was also the backup newscaster for the Texas Standard.