Porter honors legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on 51st anniversary of his assassination

Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the 51st anniversary of his assassination at Kennedy-King Memorial Park in Indianapolis and recalled the peace and unity that Senator Robert Kennedy brought to the city where he delivered remarks after having just learned about Dr. King’s assassination.

During his remarks, Porter said, “April 4, 1968 was the day our country experienced a violent tragedy. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Senator Robert Kennedy was in Indiana for his presidential campaign. He was advised to not go to Indianapolis for fear of his safety.

“He was advised to not go to Indianapolis for fear of his safety. He went anyway because Senator Kennedy knew how significant the loss of Dr. King was to the people gathered in Indianapolis and the entire country. He went and spoke for six minutes. As a result, while many other cities erupted in violence and rioting following Dr. King’s assassination, Indianapolis did not suffer riots or bloodshed.”

As the board chair for the Kennedy/King Memorial Initiative, Porter helps lead the continued efforts in the community to celebrate diversity and equality as source of strength for Indianapolis and America.