Eyewitness News blog on MLK's assassination (WABC-TV/DT)

[Omaha Steve]

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=6059932

Thursday, April 03, 2008 | 3:46 PM



MEMPHIS (WABC) -- It's raining in Memphis today. Perhaps scenery that fits, as this city in the south prepares to mark a solemn occasion. The 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr will be remebered here and across the country.

April 4, 1968 an assassin's bullet struck down the civil rights icon as he stood on the second floor balcony of the Memphis' Lorraine Motel. Forty years later there will be a national discussion about race and the progress that has been made.

Presidential candidates, Senator Hillary Clinton will be here as well as Senator John Mccain. Also, the Reverend Al Sharpton is in Memphis. His National Action Network is holding a convention here and he will lead a march through the streets of Memphis on Friday.

I arrived this morning along with photo journalist Brian White. In an exclusive interview I asked Reverend Sharpton about the anniversary and what he hopes to accomplish with Friday's march.

It is an interview you will only see at 11pm on Eyewitness News. We will be here for a couple of days covering the events.

Jeff Pegues