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| US crowds mark King anniversary | US crowds mark King anniversary |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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 milestone in Memphis, while the latter's Democratic rival Barack Obama spoke in Indiana. | Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Hillary Clinton marked the milestone in Memphis, while the latter's Democratic rival Barack Obama spoke in Indiana. |
| King's campaign for equal rights by non-violent means inspired millions. | 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 King's ideals of social justice. Wreaths have been laid at the site of his assassination. | |
| He understood that love and compassion will always triumph over bitterness and hatred President George W Bush Seeking answers on King's killer href="/1/hi/world/americas/7331745.stm">Demons of race remain class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7331360.stm">Tears and hopes on anniversary | |
| His son, Martin Luther King III, and civil rights campaigner the Rev Al Sharpton were expected to lead the march, to be followed by an evening candle-lit vigil. | His son, Martin Luther King III, and civil rights campaigner the Rev Al Sharpton were expected to lead the march, to 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 had been a "man of courage and vision" who understood that "love and compassion will always triumph over bitterness and hatred". | Mr Bush said had been a "man of courage and vision" who understood that "love and compassion will always triumph over bitterness and hatred". |
| 'Equality and justice' | '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 King was shot. | John McCain, who will be the Republican Party's presidential candidate in November's general election, spoke in front of the balcony where King was shot. |
| Marchers made their way in the rain to the motel where Dr King died | Marchers made their way in the rain to the motel where Dr King died |
| Addressing the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King once headed, Mr McCain said changing times had only helped to make him seem a "bigger man". | Addressing the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King once headed, Mr McCain said changing times had only helped to make him seem a "bigger man". |
| "The quality of his character is only more apparent," he said. | "The quality of his character is only more apparent," he said. |
| "His good name will be honoured as long as the creed of America is honoured." | "His good name will be honoured as long as the creed of America is honoured." |
| Mr McCain said he had made a mistake years ago when he initially opposed the creation of a federal holiday in Mr King's memory. | |
| Mrs Clinton, who is competing with Mr Obama to be the Democratic Party's choice to run for president, spoke at the church where King gave a sermon the day before he died. | Mrs Clinton, who is competing with Mr Obama to be the Democratic Party's choice to run for president, spoke at the church where King gave a sermon the day before he died. |
| She described meeting him when she was 14 and, with tears in her eyes, recalled her despair a few years later on hearing the news of his murder. | She described meeting him when she was 14 and, with tears in her eyes, recalled her despair a few years later on hearing the news of his murder. |
| The "journey is far from over", she said, but added that King would always carry Americans forward, so long as they remembered his inspirational legacy. | The "journey is far from over", she said, but added that King would always carry Americans forward, so long as they remembered his inspirational legacy. |
| 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 | 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 |
| "Because of him, after 219 years and 43 presidents who have all been white men, this generation will grow up taking for granted that a woman or an African-American could be president of the United States," she said. | "Because of him, after 219 years and 43 presidents who have all been white men, this generation will grow up taking for granted that a woman or an African-American could be president of the United States," she said. |
| Mr Obama, in Indiana, spoke not only of King but also of then Democratic presidential candidate Robert Kennedy, who was himself assassinated two months after the civil rights leader. | Mr Obama, in Indiana, spoke not only of 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 King had "preached the gospel of brotherhood, of equality and justice". | Mr Obama told a campaign rally that King had "preached the gospel of brotherhood, of equality and justice". |
| He said 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". | He said 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". |
| 'Walls pulled down' | 'Walls pulled down' |
| King was killed by a rifle round as he helped organise a strike by sanitation workers. | 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 | Dr King's crusade for social justice still resonates today |
| The BBC's Andy Gallacher says that while conspiracy theories abound about King's death, it is his legacy that will be celebrated. | The BBC's Andy Gallacher says that while conspiracy theories abound about King's death, it is his legacy that will be celebrated. |
| King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination. | King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination. |
| 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 King's death include an appearance in Indianapolis by Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert Kennedy. | Other US events being held to commemorate King's death include an appearance in Indianapolis by Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert Kennedy. |
| A special exhibition on King's final days and funeral is due to open in his birthplace, Atlanta. | A special exhibition on 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. |