Robert Kennedy Delivers News of MLK Assassination

Pol Light Moment #62 occurred on April 4, 1968, when Robert F. Kennedy delivered news of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in a speech given in Indianapolis, Indiana. Robert F. Kennedy served as the Attorney General of the United States from 1961-1964 and he then served as a United States Senator from New York from 1965 until his own death by assassination on June 6, 1968.
When Robert Kennedy gave this speech he was campaigning for President of the United States. The speech that Kennedy was set to give in the inner city of Indianapolis on April 4, 1968, was changed very quickly after Kennedy learned of the news of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death that afternoon. His speech has been widely recognized as a great success and even though unrest occurred in many major cities after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., there was no violence in Indianapolis, where the speech was delivered. 
The following is a recorded video of Robert F. Kennedy's speech on April 4, 1968.

One of the memorable parts of the speech that Robert F. Kennedy gave that preceded applause was this:

What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black (Robert F. Kennedy Speech at www.historyplace.com).

The following is a video from Podium about the speech that Robert F. Kennedy gave on April 4, 1968.

  You can read the full text of this speech at The History Place website. 
Robert F. Kennedy has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Robert Kennedy posts search with the label Robert Kennedy at Pol Light blog.  Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
The photo of Robert F. Kennedy with Martin Luther King, Jr in this post is in the Public Domain.