AP PHOTOS: Washington then and now following King’s death
AP PHOTOS: Washington then and now following King’s death
Then: Firemen gathered at a fire engine after rioting. Today, a shopping center is seen.
The April 4, 1968, assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., sparked riots in Washington that began at the corner of 14th and U Street NW. Here, in 2018 and 1968, is 14th Street near Park Avenue.
Neighborhood economies were left devastated. It would take more than 40 years for full recovery. Here, people walk today at the corner of 4th and H streets, contrasted with the National Guard’s presence in 1968.
The riots lasted for days. Here, remains smolder where a building stood on 7th Street in 1968; today, buildings stand again.
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy toured damage and stopped by the debris of a building razed by fire.
Police kept rifles at the ready as fellow law enforcement officers searched a house for an armed man in 1968.
in 1968, a torn-down newsstand on 14th and Kenyon streets remained after rioting. Today, a shopping center stands.
In 1968: Police in riot gear on 14th and U streets. Today: The Frank D. Reeves Center of Municipal Affairs Center.
A soldier stood guard at the corner of 8th and H street, before a pile of rubble which once was a jewelry stores.
Then: People milled around debris-covered sidewalks.
Now: A tour group walks by the Canterbury Pulpit at the National Cathedral. Then: Martin Luther King Jr. addressed a capacity crowd days before his assassination.
A soldier stood guard during days of rioting at 14th and U Streets.
The National Guard tried to quell the rioting in 1968.
Then: A torn-down newsstand at 14th and Kenyon streets.
Then: National Guardsmen move along the center of 14th Street. Now: Traffic chugs down the same street.
Then: Firemen gathered at a fire engine after rioting. Today, a shopping center is seen.
Then: Firemen gathered at a fire engine after rioting. Today, a shopping center is seen.
The April 4, 1968, assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., sparked riots in Washington that began at the corner of 14th and U Street NW. Here, in 2018 and 1968, is 14th Street near Park Avenue.
The April 4, 1968, assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., sparked riots in Washington that began at the corner of 14th and U Street NW. Here, in 2018 and 1968, is 14th Street near Park Avenue.
Neighborhood economies were left devastated. It would take more than 40 years for full recovery. Here, people walk today at the corner of 4th and H streets, contrasted with the National Guard’s presence in 1968.
Neighborhood economies were left devastated. It would take more than 40 years for full recovery. Here, people walk today at the corner of 4th and H streets, contrasted with the National Guard’s presence in 1968.
The riots lasted for days. Here, remains smolder where a building stood on 7th Street in 1968; today, buildings stand again.
The riots lasted for days. Here, remains smolder where a building stood on 7th Street in 1968; today, buildings stand again.
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy toured damage and stopped by the debris of a building razed by fire.
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy toured damage and stopped by the debris of a building razed by fire.
Police kept rifles at the ready as fellow law enforcement officers searched a house for an armed man in 1968.
Police kept rifles at the ready as fellow law enforcement officers searched a house for an armed man in 1968.
in 1968, a torn-down newsstand on 14th and Kenyon streets remained after rioting. Today, a shopping center stands.
in 1968, a torn-down newsstand on 14th and Kenyon streets remained after rioting. Today, a shopping center stands.
In 1968: Police in riot gear on 14th and U streets. Today: The Frank D. Reeves Center of Municipal Affairs Center.
In 1968: Police in riot gear on 14th and U streets. Today: The Frank D. Reeves Center of Municipal Affairs Center.
A soldier stood guard at the corner of 8th and H street, before a pile of rubble which once was a jewelry stores.
A soldier stood guard at the corner of 8th and H street, before a pile of rubble which once was a jewelry stores.
Then: People milled around debris-covered sidewalks.
Then: People milled around debris-covered sidewalks.
Now: A tour group walks by the Canterbury Pulpit at the National Cathedral. Then: Martin Luther King Jr. addressed a capacity crowd days before his assassination.
Now: A tour group walks by the Canterbury Pulpit at the National Cathedral. Then: Martin Luther King Jr. addressed a capacity crowd days before his assassination.
A soldier stood guard during days of rioting at 14th and U Streets.
A soldier stood guard during days of rioting at 14th and U Streets.
The National Guard tried to quell the rioting in 1968.
The National Guard tried to quell the rioting in 1968.
Then: A torn-down newsstand at 14th and Kenyon streets.
Then: A torn-down newsstand at 14th and Kenyon streets.
Then: National Guardsmen move along the center of 14th Street. Now: Traffic chugs down the same street.
Then: National Guardsmen move along the center of 14th Street. Now: Traffic chugs down the same street.
Riots erupted in America’s capital in the hours after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Grieving and angry, rioters smashed windows, looted and burned buildings for several days.
With the Washington, D.C. police force overwhelmed by the rioting, the federal government deployed the National Guard to protect government buildings and maintain some semblance of order in the city.