The Q64 bullet was a .30-06 caliber bullet of Remington-Peters manufacture. The US will celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr on Monday, January 18, 2021, remembering all of the tremendous strides the activist-led in promoting civil liberties for all Americans. "Somebody's gotta get him.". (In the period 1963-64, there were 550 serious assaults inside Jefferson City, including hundreds of stabbings, which is why Time magazine called it the "bloodiest 47 acres in America." The King family started to publicly voice the opinion in 1997. If this self-seeking rabble-rouser is allowed to go through with his plans here, Washington may well be treated to the same kind of violence, destruction, looting, and bloodshed.1. When ODells position as a member of the National Committee of the Communist Party was revealed in 1961, King supposedly fired him. the result of a conspiracy that involved Jowers, not Ray, as well as ''others, including governmental agencies. It stated that King had allied himself with black nationalist groups that planned to seize the initiative and escalate the nonviolent demonstrations into violence. It continued: King has met with black nationalists and attempted to solicit their support. In renouncing his guilt, Ray raised the spectre of a conspiracy behind Kings murder but offered scant evidence to support his claim. As President Ronal Reagan once wrote to former New Hampshire Governor Meldrim Thomson, who had sent a letter to Reagan urging the president not to sign the bill for a holiday honoring King, On the national holiday you mentioned, I have the reservations you have, but here the perception of too many people is based on an image, not reality. The facts are these. people lost faith in the political system. He volunteered for Wallaces campaign and was very disappointed when Wallace could not win the campaign. Ray confessed to the crime on March 10, 1969 and received a 99-year prison sentence, which increased to a 100-year sentence after he briefly escaped in 1977. (153) USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration James Earl Ray From the viewpoint of a man who served time with Ray in prison, then went on to become a journalist, . He was first convicted for a burglary in California in the year 1949. Ten years after his death, Rays brother John Larry Ray wrote a book along with writer Lyndon Barsten called Truth At Last: The Untold Story Behind James Earl Ray and the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. James Earl Ray was a racist, but there was circumstantial evidence that a businessman in St. Louis had established a $50,000 bounty for King's death." . Jerry Ray was J.B. Stoner's campaign manager when Stoner ran for Governor of Georgia against Jimmy Carter. King is aware of the possibility of violence because one of his aides proclaimed recently to the press, Jail will be the safest place in Washington this spring.. Los Angeles was the site of Ray's first arrest, for burglary, in 1949, and he ended up serving 90 days in jail. On March 28th, riots took place in Memphis and King was present; on March 29th, Democrat Senator Byrd threw down the gauntlet with Democrat president Lyndon Baines Johnson by delivering a fiery speech on the Senate Floor intended to get the president to stop Kings march; Johnson announced on March 31st that he would not seek reelection; a bullet would take the life of King days later on April 4th, one year to the day after delivering what many viewed as an incendiary speech at the time. The introduction to the paper observed that since 1956, King had occupied a prominent role in the drive for equal rights for Negroes in the Untied States. It continued by noting, The course King chooses to follow at this critical time could have momentous impact on the future of race relations in the United States, and for that reason this paper has been prepared to give some insight into the nature of the man himself as well as the nature of his views, goals, objective, tactics, and the reason therefore., The papers summary of Kings planned Washington Spring project is contrary to the image of King painted by most historians as a man who employed only the most peaceful means. For some 50 years, the federal government has maintained that James Earl Ray was the gunman who assassinated King that day. We knew that anytime you try to escape from a maximum-security prison you run the risk of being shot. There it was once again: A belief from the Rev. He got a 99-year prison sentence, which he served until he died of liver failure due to hepatitis C on . Ray had seven siblings. This is the real thing and as an officer of the court he should have known better. Martin Luther King Jr.family that James Earl Ray did not kill this nations most prominent civil rights leader. As for how Welch was able to gather such damning information about King when the FBI files on the activist were classified, much has to do with the fact that there were many patriotic members of the FBI and other agencies who recognized that Welch and the society he founded constituted a trustworthy place to reveal what they knew. James Lawson, a Memphis pastor and civil rights institution who helped mentor King, said he began visiting Ray in the Memphis jail in 1969 when Ray complained about being held in solitary. After the King shooting, one person living at the rooming house where the shot was fired described the assassin as heavy set with receding hair. In 1967, he returned to the United States (Los Angeles) from Mexico and took dancing classes in a bartending school. As a former judge here, we have a rule in the 30th Judicial Districtit says every single Magistrate Referee has to be unanimously approved by every Circuit, Chancery, and Criminal Court Judge. FBI investigators at the time traced the shot to a rooming house across the street, and witnesses directed them to a large bundle dropped on the sidewalk after the shooting. It contained a pair of binoculars, a newspaper with a story about King staying at the Lorraine Motel, and a .30-06 Remington Gamemaster that had fired one shot. Although Benny was eventually released from prison and returned to work for the engineering firm he'd been employed by at the time of his arrest in Canada, interest in him by then had died out, and the book was never published. In prison I knew men who would stab you to death over a carton of cigarettes, or for even a slight insult. I got to know him better when he came to Jeff City with a sentence for robbery. Certainly not enough to finance his travels to Mexico, Canada, England, etc., after his escape. The 12-person jury verdict unanimous exonerated the "patsy" James Earl Ray for any role in the assassination of MLK. The New American magazine, published twice a month in print and daily online, is the essential news source for freedom-loving Americans. Ray replied that he did not commit the crime. [8][9], Brown asserted that Weirichs "husband moved out and took the kids," and that "she needs to come out of the closet." In order to hang onto your drugs, people had to know that you would kill them without hesitation. The first year and a half I paid little or no attention to Ray. He is the one who sits in leadership and is the most powerful person of a country. One of the most intriguing aspects of the New Times article on James Earl Ray/Jerry Ray/J.B. The bureau wiretapped his phone and monitored his movements, taking advantage of times when he seemed particularly upset or depressed. It was a clear case of arson, and five people from Marlborough were duly convicted of the crime. With the release of this FBI document, however, it seems that the FBI and the JBS were on the same page regarding King. In the five decades since Martin Luther King Jr.was shot dead by an assassin at age 39, his children have worked tirelessly to preserve his legacy, sometimes with sharply different views on how best to do that, an article in the March 30 Washington Post said. Kershaw made Ray to take a polygraph test as part of an interview with Playboy. Later in life his pleas for a trial were encouraged by some civil-rights leaders, notably the King family. Don told me later he was stunned; but he knew if he hesitated too long, a guard would catch Ray. Still, Ray shot ReverendKing and if the King family wants closure in the matter they should finally accept that fact. Then Benny was transferred to L-Hall, an honor unit just outside the walls of the main penitentiary. When prominent people die violently, they become martyrs in some peoples eyes, and there is a reluctance on their part even to consider anything that blemishes the heroic image they have formed of the individual. He said not knowing the truth about his fathers assassination had been painful for the family. it from Birmingham, Ala., to Memphis, Tenn., where he rented a room at 422 1/2 South Main Street, and moments after the assassination, he dropped On July 19, he returned to U.S. and the following March he pleaded guilty to murdering King. King was fired. No vehicle traffic would have been allowed in or out until he was found. He was a skinny guy with sandy hair and a cultured, slightly arrogant manner. Using their logic, the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. should be attributed to a Democratic U.S. Most recently, after Ray's death in . After he was recaptured, Ray hired attorney Jack Kershaw to promote his claim that he was not the person who actually shot King. He also founded his own white supremacist party. Drupal theme by ThemeSnap.com, That is why he could never have been a major drug dealer. The New Times article also asserted that Jerry Ray, if he were involved, might have been duped himself-might have thought he was setting up something other than an assassination. After several days, the prison officials concluded that Ray had actually escaped, and they put out an alarm. Born in a poor family, Ray had a difficult childhood as his father could not support his family. An hour later, he was declared dead. [6] It was during this time that Brown caught the attention of the producers of Judge Judy. That is why he could never have been a major drug dealer. King vs. Loyd Jowers and conspirators unknown. But almost immediately after her husbands assassination, she suspected that the FBI, which had investigated the murder, was involved in it. But Westberg had been told that the guard did not open the bread box. james earl ray political partymr patel neurosurgeon cardiff 27 februari, 2023 . Rays fingerprints were the only ones found on the gun, and there were no witnesses who had seen him with Raoul during the nine months they supposedly knew each other (Rays description of Raoul also changed a few times). The massive publicity surrounding Benny's capture caused Gold Medal Books to contact him and ask him to write 20,000 words of autobiographical data, so they could bring out an "instant" paperback book about him. James Earl Ray Sirhan Sirhan Jack Ruby. Findings on Martin Luther King, Jr. But even if Ray had help, the evidence strongly pointed to him pulling the trigger. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Omissions? From the viewpoint of a man who served time with Ray in prison, then went on to become a journalist, and continued to follow the case, with some emphasis on Ray's mentality, how he escaped from prison, and why there is reason to believe white supremacists may have been behind King's murder. [22] He was released from protective custody at the Shelby County Corrections Facility the morning of September 1, 2015. When authorities caught him in London, hed been planning to travel to Rhodesia, a former African state ruled by a white minority in present-day Zimbabwe. Brown was thrust into the national spotlight while presiding over James Earl Ray's last appeal of his conviction for the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Brown was removed from the reopened investigation of King's murder due to alleged bias. Each year, the third Monday in January is a celebration to commemorate the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr., the tireless civil rights activist who was gunned down in Memphis, TN, in 1968. But what do you know about James Earl Ray, the man who assassinated Martin Luther King? "[10], In August 2015, Brown served five days in the Shelby County Jail after having been held in contempt of court in March 2014. Mr. Kershaw was a Tennessee lawyer who argued that James Earl Ray, convicted in the 1968 assassination of the Rev. The President, Milteer said, would be shot "from an office building with a high-powered rifle," and a patsy would be picked up within hours . In June 1977 Ray escaped from Brushy Mountain (Tennessee) Prison and remained at large for 54 hours before being recaptured in a massive manhunt. So, even if I conceded the possibility that Ray had sold drugs, it would have been in small quantities, and for a brief period of time. The project, while stopping short of violent riots, nevertheless advocated widespread civil disobedience (a nonviolent, but nevertheless illegal activity) that King said he and 3,000 of his followers planned on staging in Washington that spring. Over the years, as book after book has been published on the King case, numerous conspiracy theories have been advanced: that the FBI was involved; that the CIA feared King would come out in opposition to the Vietnam War; that rival black leaders felt King's non-violent approach was a hindrance to black progress; that white supremacists wanted him out of the way for obvious reasons. With it came a letter threatening King with public exposure if he didnt kill himself, and claiming that the sender had evidence of other affairs. Sometime before 4:00 p.m. on April 4, 1968, James Earl Ray parked his white Mustang on South Main Street and, under an assumed name, rented a room in the second floor rooming house directly above the grill. The same NSRP member said there were plans to kill Martin Luther King. He was about five years older than me. He edited most of the chapters of Kings book Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? What would it have taken for the Goldmans and the Browns to have believed Orenthals story that he was innocent? King was one of the worst enemies my people ever had. Her reference to my people was to her race, since she was black. We had no contact, however, since he was on the other side of the building. Jerry began to follow my lead, and that became a source of friction among me, Laster and Westberg. Hunter Pitts ODell, former National Committee member of the CPUSA, was employed by SCLC. There was, however, some question in our minds about Ray's coordination. James Earl Ray lowers his head as State Safety commissioner Greg O'Rear, white hat, and Highway Patrol Maj. Mickey McGuire, dark glasses, lead him to prison in Nashville, Tenn., March 11, 1969. Although it is often. In the 1960s John Larry Ray (another brother) owned a tavern in St. Louis, and that tavern was an unofficial headquarters for the Wallace for President campaign. A man named Vincent Harding is credited with writing most of it. The shot that killed Dr. King was fired from the bathroom window at the The prosecutors have enough efficient evidence in establishing guilt against James Earl Ray concerning the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. First, James Earl Ray was in close enough vicinity of the Lorraine Hotel to successfully fire a clear shot to kill Dr. King from only a block away. J.B. Stoner, however, would certainly have had the know-how for both, plus the white-supremacist background to explain why he would do it. A two month long manhunt spanning five countries was launched by the law enforcement agencies to nab him. Such a conclusion must be drawn from a premise that the King family was willing to publicly, wrongfully, and unjustifiably vindicate Ray in order to accuse others simply to gain notoriety. [13], Brown is twice divorced and has two sons from his first marriage.[14]. They laid out the evidence before he entered his plea, and he said, OK. He said his lawyers were incompetent, and that proved false. Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. In March 2014, Brown won the Democratic primary for the position of Shelby County district attorney. In subsequent disclosures, Ray said that he was not the only person involved in the murder of King. Anyone who remembers the looks on their faces, their resolve and their anger would have to concede that it would have required nothing short of cold hard facts. He guided King in deciding whether to accept or reject public appearances. I have respect for the King family, however, as thousands of people converge on Memphis and in other places on Wednesday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of MLKs death, the King family is dead wrong. Kershaw and Ray approached the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations and got approval for the conduct of ballistics tests. 14. Brown then said, "OK, OK, I'll tell you what. Ray pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. (Benny had taken two years of civil engineering in college.). On January 26, 1976, My findings are that there is nothing whatsoever to substantiate any conclusion that James Earl Ray financed either his escape or his activities after his escape through any means while he was an inmate at the Missouri State Penitentiary. Raised in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles, Brown graduated as valedictorian[full citation needed] from Dorsey High School. One week prior to Kings assassination on April 4, 1968 he had gone to Memphis to show support for local sanitation workers. As a loner, it would be impossible for Ray to deal large quantities of drugs, because one of the cliques would simply rob him, and there wouldn't be much he could do, alone, against a clique with a dozen members. Benny was eventually placed on the FBI's 10-Most-Wanted list and was captured in Canada, where he was posing as an engineer and had married a school teacher. He shot. James Earl Ray was a racist, but there was circumstantial evidence that a businessman in St. Louis had established a $50,000 bounty for Kings death.. There was one week in 1968 when much happened. In 1997, King told Ray personally that both he and his family believed him. There were no cellblock TVs in Jefferson City in 1963 and 1964. January 30, 1961. A mock trial of Ray in which he was represented by Dr. William Pepper was later telecast on TV to criticize the government for denying him the trial. I've seen it happen again and again. It was then learned he'd been the site engineer for the West German Pavilion at Expo '67 in Montreal. During this period James Earl Ray was most noticeable as a guy who rented out magazines on the yard. On June 8 he was apprehended by London police at Heathrow Airport as he was about to embark for Brussels; the FBI had established him as the prime suspect almost immediately after the assassination. The Committee Believes, on the Basis of the Circumstantial Evidence Available to it, that there is a Likelihood that James Earl Ray Assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King, JR., as a Result of a Conspiracy. Indeed, a former agent from the FBIs field office in Atlanta said the bureaus tracking of King was second only to the way they went after Jimmy Hoffa. In 1975, a group of former FBI agents called on Congress to investigate this harrassment. So, are there are still remaining questions about how everything happened the day of Kings assassination? In the year 1968, Earl Ray brought a Remington Model 760 Gamemaster .30-06-caliber rifle and a box with 20 cartridges. Early life [ edit] They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. But they are unanimous on one key point: James Earl Ray did not kill Martin Luther King.. It's a seductive thought. There were half a dozen guys who rented magazines, and they hawked their wares by the yard shack (a small rock building where the guards stayed). While attending law school, Brown worked as a substitute teacher. This doesnt mean that Ray couldnt have received assistance. The explanation is much simpler. The first time I saw James Earl Ray, he had just arrived at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. A confirmed racist and small-time criminal, James Earl Ray began plotting the assassination of revered civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in early 1968. Updates? In one instance, the FBI sent him a tape that allegedly contained audio of him having an affair. "doesn't know anything.". Spouse/Ex-: Anna Sandhu Ray (m. 19781993), siblings: Carol Pepper, Franklin Ray, Jerry Ray, John Larry Ray, Marjorie Ray, Melba Ray, Suzan Ray, place of death: Nashville, Tennessee, United States, See the events in life of James Earl Ray in Chronological Order, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25196041/james-earl-ray, http://yourblackworld.net/2012/06/23/james-earl-rays-map-used-get-out-prison-being-sold-history-teacher/, https://www.ebay.com/itm/JAMES-EARL-RAY-Mugshot-Glossy-8x10-Photo-Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Print-Poster-/202043577078, https://shannonyarbrough.com/tag/james-earl-ray/, http://www.debate.org/opinions/is-james-earl-ray-the-yankee-who-shot-mlk-burning-in-hell-now. 9 A staff report, An Analysis of James Earl Ray's Trip to New Orleans, December 15-21, 1967, appears in XIII Appendix to the HSCA-MLK hearings (hereinafter referred to as staff report: New Orleans trip). The coffee was contraband. McMillans false scenarios portray Ray as a rabid racist in prison. After this, Ray was on the run and was captured in the UK. James Earl Ray. James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to killing Dr. King; he challenged the plea and failed.
Paoletti's Highlands Reservations,
How Much Should I Walk According To My Bmi Calculator,
Why Did Jeannie Leave The Ellen Show,
Articles J