Remembering 1968: How Communities Mark Anniversaries of King and Kennedy
The fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fell in April 2018. He was killed in Memphis, Tennessee, on 4 April 1968, and that anniversary has passed. Its meaning has not. On the evening of King's death, Robert F. Kennedy, then campaigning for the presidency, spoke to a largely Black crowd in Indianapolis. He broke the news to them himself and appealed for compassion rather than revenge. That short, unscripted speech is still remembered as one of the most moving public addresses of the era, and it is a central part of how Indianapolis remembers 1968.
Anniversary programmes like these usually combine several kinds of events:
- Public readings and reflections at historic sites, such as the Landmark for Peace memorial in Indianapolis, which marks the spot where Kennedy spoke.
- Panel conversations with historians, civil rights veterans and community leaders, looking at what has changed since 1968 and what has not.
- Exhibitions and film screenings that bring the period to younger audiences.
- Service projects that turn remembrance into practical action.
Why this matters for alumni communities
Alumni networks are, at heart, about shared memory and shared responsibility. The way cities honour King and Kennedy offers a useful model for chapters anywhere, including here in Denpasar. It shows how to gather people around a common history, invite honest conversation, and connect the past to work that still needs doing.
Members who want to organise a discussion evening or a reading group on themes of civil rights, leadership and reconciliation can share ideas through our chapter pages. You can also explore related reflections in the archive. If you plan to attend a commemorative event abroad, check the organiser's official channels for current details, and book travel well ahead.