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| US crowds mark King anniversary | US crowds mark King anniversary |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Crowds have gathered in the US city of Memphis, Tennessee, to mark 40 years since the assassination of legendary civil rights leader Martin Luther King. | |
| The commemorations focus on the former Lorraine Motel, now a civil rights museum, where he was shot dead aged 39. | The commemorations focus on the former Lorraine Motel, now a civil rights museum, where he was shot dead aged 39. |
| Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Hillary Clinton marked the anniversary in Memphis, while her Democratic rival Barack Obama spoke in Indiana. | |
| Dr King's campaign for equal rights by non-violent means inspired millions. | Dr King's campaign for equal rights by non-violent means inspired millions. |
| His "I have a dream" speech in Washington in 1963 is considered among the greatest ever made. | His "I have a dream" speech in Washington in 1963 is considered among the greatest ever made. |
| Candle-lit vigil | Candle-lit vigil |
| Under rainy skies, a "recommitment march" was held through Memphis to highlight Dr King's ideals of social justice. Wreaths are being laid at the site of his assassination. | Under rainy skies, a "recommitment march" was held through Memphis to highlight Dr King's ideals of social justice. Wreaths are being laid at the site of his assassination. |
| He understood that love and compassion will always triumph over bitterness and hatred President George W Bush class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7329763.stm">Seeking answers on King's killer class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7331377.stm">Anniversary in pictures His son, Martin Luther King III, and civil rights campaigner the Rev Al Sharpton were expected to lead the march, which will be followed by an evening candle-lit vigil. | |
| US President George W Bush paid tribute to the anti-segregation icon's legacy from Zagreb, Croatia. | US President George W Bush paid tribute to the anti-segregation icon's legacy from Zagreb, Croatia. |
| Mr Bush said: "Dr King was a man of courage and vision. He understood that love and compassion will always triumph over bitterness and hatred." | Mr Bush said: "Dr King was a man of courage and vision. He understood that love and compassion will always triumph over bitterness and hatred." |
| 'Equality and justice' | |
| John McCain, who will be the Republican Party's presidential candidate in November's general election, spoke in front of the balcony where Dr King was shot. | |
| Addressing the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which Dr King once headed, Mr McCain said changing times had only helped to make him seem a "bigger man". | |
| We are our brother's keeper, we are our sister's keeper, and either we go up together, or we go down together Barack Obama "The quality of his character is only more apparent. His good name will be honoured as long as the creed of America is honoured," he said. | |
| Mrs Clinton, who is competing with Mr Obama to be the Democratic Party's choice to run for president, talked about how Dr King had inspired her. | |
| She recalled meeting him when she was a teenage girl and said Dr King would always carry Americans forward, so long as they remembered his legacy. | |
| Mr Obama, in Indiana, spoke not only of Dr King but also of then Democratic presidential candidate Robert Kennedy, who was himself assassinated two months after the civil rights leader. | |
| Mr Obama told a campaign rally that Dr King had "preached the gospel of brotherhood; of equality and justice". | |
| He said Dr King had recognised that beyond people's colour, faith or class, "we all have a stake in one another, we are our brother's keeper, we are our sister's keeper, and either we go up together, or we go down together". | |
| 'Pulled down walls' | |
| Dr King was killed by a rifle round as he helped organise a strike by sanitation workers. | Dr King was killed by a rifle round as he helped organise a strike by sanitation workers. |
| James Earl Ray, who admitted firing the fatal shot, died in prison in 1998. | James Earl Ray, who admitted firing the fatal shot, died in prison in 1998. |
| Dr King's crusade for social justice still resonates today | |
| The BBC's Andy Gallacher says that while conspiracy theories abound about Dr King's death, it is his legacy that will be celebrated. | The BBC's Andy Gallacher says that while conspiracy theories abound about Dr King's death, it is his legacy that will be celebrated. |
| Dr King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination. | Dr King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination. |
| "He pulled down the walls of fear, he changed the laws of legal apartheid in our country, he set in motion the right to vote which has transformed democratic governments around the world," the Rev Jesse Jackson, who was with him in his final moments, told the BBC. | "He pulled down the walls of fear, he changed the laws of legal apartheid in our country, he set in motion the right to vote which has transformed democratic governments around the world," the Rev Jesse Jackson, who was with him in his final moments, told the BBC. |
| The Lorraine Motel was turned into a National Civil Rights Museum in 1991. | The Lorraine Motel was turned into a National Civil Rights Museum in 1991. |
| Other US events being held to commemorate Dr King's death include an appearance in Indianapolis by Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert Kennedy. | |
| A special exhibition on Dr King's final days and funeral is due to open in his birthplace, Atlanta. | A special exhibition on Dr King's final days and funeral is due to open in his birthplace, Atlanta. |
| Members of the US Congress paid tribute to him in speeches on Thursday. | Members of the US Congress paid tribute to him in speeches on Thursday. |