New Photos of Aftermath of MLK Killing Published

Source: AP/LIFE

View PHOTOS here: http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/24651

ATLANTA – Newly published photographs of the aftermath of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. languished for decades in Life magazine's archive before being published on the magazine's Web site this week.

About a dozen black-and-white pictures that went online Thursday include scenes of King's associates meeting solemnly in the civil rights leader's motel room, standing on the balcony where he stood for the last time, and workers cleaning the last of the blood. Saturday marks the 41st anniversary of the assassination.

They were taken April 4, 1968, by Life magazine photographer Henry Groskinsky, who was on assignment in Alabama with writer Mike Silva when they learned that King had been shot in Memphis and rushed to the scene.

Groskinsky, reached at his vacation home in Boca Raton, Fla., said Friday he learned about a week ago that the photographs, which he does not own, would be made public.

"The only thing I can figure is it might've had something to do with the (anniversary)," he said. "I think with Life opening up that new Web site, they started looking through the archives and ... said, 'What's this? Why wasn't this published at the time of the assassination?"

Instead, the now-famous Associated Press photo taken by another photographer, depicting King's lieutenants pointing in the direction of the assassin, was used by Life and other publications. None of Groskinsky's images were published and he said he's glad they are now on display.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/mlk_photos;_ylt=AiBOD5XAntTCbDEz6NxIQmis0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTJjdmcwNGFzBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNDAzL21sa19waG90b3MEY3BvcwM3BHBvcwMxNwRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNuZXdwaG90b3NvZmE-

i was 4 years old, living in a country on the other side of the world. it's not till i moved to the US and started learning about history did i come to know of this remarkable man. There are no words to express the depth of this man's wisdom and courage. A truly beautiful human being.

Thanks for posting those photos.

Thank you. Heartbreaking pictures.

Just wow

thx

is Brother Will Campbell, a Mississippi Baptist Preacher. So much for stereotypes.