He was in Memphis to support the sanitation workers strike for higher wages overtime pay, and safety measures among other demands.
A local pastor, The Rev. James Lawson, had been working since early in the year with the leaders in Memphis on the organizing efforts for the sanitation workers.
Lawson said, "...at the heart of racism is the idea that a man is not a man, that a person is not a person. You are human beings. You are men. You deserve dignity." Lawson's comments were echoed in the iconic placards from the sanitation workers' strike, "I Am A Man".
On March 28, The Rev. Lawson was joined by Dr. King to lead strikers in a march that began peacefully but was called off by Lawson and King after violence erupted. Dr. King denounced the violence that evening.
To reinforce his commitment to nonviolence and renounce the violence that occurred on March 28, Dr. King returned to Memphis on April 3 and in his message that night proclaimed, “We aren't engaged in any negative protest and in any negative arguments with anybody. We are saying that we are determined to be men. We are determined to be people. We are saying -- We are saying that we are God's children. And that we are God's children, we don't have to live like we are forced to live.”
He explained,
The issue is injustice. The issue is the refusal of Memphis to be fair and honest in its dealings with its public servants, who happen to be sanitation workers”
But after the violent demonstration on March 28, Mayor Loeb was seeking a court injunction to stop another march planned for April 5.
In response, Dr. King in his sermon on the 3rd announced that the following morning they were going to fight “this illegal, unconstitutional injunction.”
He continued: “All we say to America is ‘Be true to what you said on paper.’” He noted that he could maybe understand such illegal injunctions if he lived in China or Russia or any totalitarian county. But, he preached on...
Somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly. Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of press. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right.
Dr King ended his sermon that night. . .
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!
And so I'm happy, tonight.
I'm not worried about anything.
I'm not fearing any man!
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!
Only a few hours later, at 6:01 pm on April 4, a metal-jacketed bullet from a high-velocity rifle tore into the face of Martin Luther King, Jr. The preacher and peaceful warrior for love and human rights was pronounced dead at 7:05 pm.
But if we choose to listen - and if we have ears to hear -- his voice still calls us to the higher ground of who we can be as God’s children in a beloved community.
Sources
Memphis Sanitation Strike
Sanitation Workers Strike in Memphis
Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
