Reverend Earl Allen at Houston MLK Memorial (1968)

This news segment for Houston’s KPRC-TV captures scenes from a local memorial service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 14, 1968—ten days after the civil rights leader’s assassination. An estimated crowd of 2,500 silently marched through the streets of Houston before gathering in Emancipation Park. Speakers at the service included then Texas Senator Barbara Jordan and the Reverend Earl Allen. In his speech, seen here, Allen calls for the establishment of a civilian review board and the promotion of black police officers.