You're Invited: Commemorating Robert Kennedy's historic speech in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King
Join us for an event on April 4th from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at 17th and Broadway
Dear neighbor,
On April 4th, 1968 Senator Robert Kennedy was in Indianapolis and prepared for a speech on 17th and Broadway. Before his appearance, hundreds of miles away in Tennessee, Dr. Martin Luther King was tragically assassinated. Most of the attendees hadn’t heard the news of King’s passing. Kennedy’s team and Indianapolis officials urged him to cancel due to fears of impending violence as riots erupted across the U.S. Kennedy appeared anyway.
The tension was palpable as he stepped up to the mic and said, “I have some very sad news for all of you.” After Kennedy’s opening, the attendees focused on his words which became a moving tribute to MLK’s mission of love, peace and justice. He called for listeners to model King’s desire to replace violence with compassion and understanding. Perhaps the most moving, Kennedy empathized with the crowd sharing his grief after the assassination of his brother, President John F. Kennedy.
The following quote encapsulates Kennedy’s speech:
“What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another.”
To honor Dr. King and commemorate this moment in Indianapolis history, the Kennedy King Initiative is hosting an event on 17th and Broadway on April 4th from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Please join us as we share the importance of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy and the value of Sen. Kennedy’s speech. For a video or transcript of Kennedy’s full speech, visit kennedykingindy.org. As always, please reach out to my office at h96@iga.in.gov or (317)232-9875 with any questions, comments or concerns. I hope you can join us to remember this moment in history!
Sincerely,
State Rep. Gregory W. Porter