April 7th, 1968: The Pittsburgh Peace March

However, Dr. King would never make it to the demonstration. On April 4th, 1968, while standing on the balcony outside of the Lorraine Motel, Dr. King was shot by fugitive and felon, James Earl Ray. King died later that night at the St. Joseph's Hospital in Memphis. 

125 American cities exploded in grief and mourning. Some protestors expressed their frustrations with intense demonstrations of resistance. Others channeled their emotions into organizing marches and sit-ins to illustrate continued dedication to the goals King argued for.

The local chapter of the NAACP scheduled a memorial march to King on April 7th. The March would start at the intersection of Centre Avenue and Crawford Street in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, now known as "Freedom Corner." Here you see the queue of people prepared to march. 

The march was to end at the Federal building in Downtown Pittsburgh. 

Brown issued a call to the entire community to share in the memorial to King' work. It is estimated that 3,500 persons joined in the march on April 7th.

Men and women from all walks of life attended. Since the march was scheduled on a Sunday, many came straight from church, dressed in their Sunday best. Entire families participated as well. Many children appear in the photos from the march.

The march began 30 minutes late after a confrontation between march leaders and city police. City police attempted to halt the march, stating that the demonstration couldn't continue until an adequate number of police officers were present to protect the march route.

In the previous two days and nights, the  Hill District of Pittsburgh erupted in revolt. Fires were set to many local white-owned businesses. Looting occurred. Some the Black community of Pittsburgh expressed their frustrations and anger in a spectacle of fire. 

In light of this, city officials felt the march would only lead to further violence, thus their attempts to stop it. Local NAACP President, Alma Fox, slipped through the line of officers and confronted local city leadership. Partly due to Fox's determination, the march proceeded.

While the march itself was entirely peaceful,  three unidentified marchers were rushed to the hospital after the confrontation with police. 

Once at the Federal Building, Brown, along with several other local civil rights leaders, mounted the steps to speak to the crowd. It is unclear whether or not they were permitted to present their petitions to members of Congress.