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This image was taken by a photojournalist working under the employ of the Associated Press, a US news agency founded in 1846 and still in operation today. These photographers endeavored to take in-focus, direct, and straightforward illustrations that would clearly communicate important events with the American public. Documentary photography of social protest movements (and particularly police violence) played a major role in shaping public opinion in these years. 

 


DimensionsOverall: 6 5/8 x 7 7/8 in. (16.8 x 20 cm)
Accession Number 2025.260
Classificationsphotograph
ProvenanceJeff Perry; Des Moines Art Center [gift from the previous, 2025]
the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The President, speaking at the White House, pledged the "nation can and shall and will overcome." He also ordered the American Flag to be flown at half staff in tribute to Dr. King, Washington D.C., April 5, 1968
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Image Not Available for Conference In Wake of Assassination: President Johnson today met in the White House Cabinet Room with civil rights leaders and government officials. The conference was called in wake of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. At left is Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Washington DC, April 5, 1968
Conference In Wake of Assassination: President Johnson today met in the White House Cabinet Room with civil rights leaders and government officials. The conference was called in wake of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. At left is Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Washington DC, April 5, 1968
Unknown Associated Press photographer
1968
Image Not Available for The Nation's Capitol, 1978: Ten Years after it was reduced to rubble in a four-day frenzy of fire-bombing and looting, triggered by the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Washington's 7th Street NW is an ash-can existence for winos. For black ghetto dwellers in Washington, the weed-filled lots and fire-scarred buildings silently mock the post-riot talk of rebuilding, April, 1978
The Nation's Capitol, 1978: Ten Years after it was reduced to rubble in a four-day frenzy of fire-bombing and looting, triggered by the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Washington's 7th Street NW is an ash-can existence for winos. For black ghetto dwellers in Washington, the weed-filled lots and fire-scarred buildings silently mock the post-riot talk of rebuilding, April, 1978
Unknown
1978
Image Not Available for Leads Poor Campaign: Civil rights leader Rev. Ralph Abernathy wipes his face during his appearance before a Senate Labor and Public Welfare subcommittee in Washington, April 20, 1968. Abernathy is the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and successor to the assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Washington D.C., April 30, 1968
Leads Poor Campaign: Civil rights leader Rev. Ralph Abernathy wipes his face during his appearance before a Senate Labor and Public Welfare subcommittee in Washington, April 20, 1968. Abernathy is the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and successor to the assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Washington D.C., April 30, 1968
Unknown Associated Press photographer
1968
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Revenge Riots Sweep America: President Johnson called federal troops into the ntaion's capital yesterday to restore peace to this frightened city after a day of arson, looting and violence in the wake of the slaying of Negro civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King. Here, a trooper stands gaurd in the street as another (left) patrols a completely demolished building. Negroes in at least 20 cities demonstrated their anger in violence at the death of Dr. King, April 6, 1968
Unknown
1968
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Tours "Battle Front": General Ralph E. Haines Jr. the Army's Vice chief of staff and commander of troops in Washington, views military installations yesterday from a bus tour with the capital city's Mayor Walter Washington to quell violence following the death of Dr. Martin Luthe rKing Jr. Troops are still in the city although there hasn't been serious trouble since Saturday night, April 12, 1968
Unknown Associated Press photographer
1968
Image Not Available for Mrs. Coretta Scott King narrates Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" during a Memorial Day concert, by the Washington National Symphony, dedicated to her late husband, Martin Luther King Jr. on May 31. The concert was originally scheduled to be held at the Lincoln Memorial May 30, where the Poor People's Campaign is encamped. Seated at left is Howard Mitchell, music director, Washington DC, June 1, 1968
Mrs. Coretta Scott King narrates Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" during a Memorial Day concert, by the Washington National Symphony, dedicated to her late husband, Martin Luther King Jr. on May 31. The concert was originally scheduled to be held at the Lincoln Memorial May 30, where the Poor People's Campaign is encamped. Seated at left is Howard Mitchell, music director, Washington DC, June 1, 1968
Unknown
1968
Image Not Available for Mrs. Coretta Scott King, widow of the late Martin Luther King Jr., rehearses in Constitution Hall for her narration of Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" which she will give February 12th as a part of Abraham Lincoln's 160th birthday anniversary celebration, which President Nixon plans to attend. At right is the celebrated composer, Washington, February 11, 1969
Mrs. Coretta Scott King, widow of the late Martin Luther King Jr., rehearses in Constitution Hall for her narration of Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" which she will give February 12th as a part of Abraham Lincoln's 160th birthday anniversary celebration, which President Nixon plans to attend. At right is the celebrated composer, Washington, February 11, 1969
Unknown
1969
Image Not Available for Dr. Martin Luther King (right) of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference July 28th condemned Negro riots as a "self-defeating passion, "while castigating Congress for "loving rats more than Negroes," At the same time Roy Wilkins (left), executive Secretary of the NAACP said the traffic gluts in Los Angeles, scene of a racial uprising in 1965, show the city "cares more about care than people." Both appeared on a panel oh race riots at the concluding sessions of the International Platform Association, July 28, 1967
Dr. Martin Luther King (right) of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference July 28th condemned Negro riots as a "self-defeating passion, "while castigating Congress for "loving rats more than Negroes," At the same time Roy Wilkins (left), executive Secretary of the NAACP said the traffic gluts in Los Angeles, scene of a racial uprising in 1965, show the city "cares more about care than people." Both appeared on a panel oh race riots at the concluding sessions of the International Platform Association, July 28, 1967
Unknown
1967
Image Not Available for Racial prejudice is acquired, not inherited, sociologists point out. These children at a nonsegregated housing project in Washington, D.C., are growing up in an atmosphere of racial harmony, reflecting the attitudes in their parents' homes. There is no reason to believe that integration will contribute to intermarriages, the social scientists say, because experience has shown that 90% of all marriages are between people who have similar racial, social and religious backgrounds. This is one example of racial integration of a number in the nation's capital. President Eisenhower hopes Washington will became a model for the rest of the nation. Economic and social barriers against Negroes have been dropping int he wake of court rulings and organized campaigns, September 12, 1955
Racial prejudice is acquired, not inherited, sociologists point out. These children at a nonsegregated housing project in Washington, D.C., are growing up in an atmosphere of racial harmony, reflecting the attitudes in their parents' homes. There is no reason to believe that integration will contribute to intermarriages, the social scientists say, because experience has shown that 90% of all marriages are between people who have similar racial, social and religious backgrounds. This is one example of racial integration of a number in the nation's capital. President Eisenhower hopes Washington will became a model for the rest of the nation. Economic and social barriers against Negroes have been dropping int he wake of court rulings and organized campaigns, September 12, 1955
Unknown
1955
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Rev. Martin Luther King, from the portfolio "Nine Drawings"
Ben Shahn
1965
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
Sack Time: Some of the thousands of soldiers ordered into Washington to put down looting and arson catch some rest in an automatic laundry shop on H Street in the northeast section of the city today, April 6, 1968
Unknown Associated Press photographer
1968
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders, Des Moines
We Shall Overcome, from the portfolio "Nine Drawings"
Ben Shahn
1965