Question

1. on the evening of __, king was fatally shot while standing on the balcony of a motel in __, where he had traveled to support a sanitation workers’ strike.
2. what occurred in the united states following the death of martin luther king jr.?
3. who killed martin luther king jr.?
4. after years of campaigning by activists, members of congress and coretta scott king, among others, in 1983 president __ (1911 - 2004) signed a bill creating a u.s. federal holiday in honor of king. observed on the third monday of january, it was first celebrated in __.

Explanation:

1. For question 17: Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while supporting a sanitation workers' strike.
2. For question 18: After King's death, widespread rioting broke out in over 100 U.S. cities, along with a period of national mourning. The Civil Rights Movement continued to push forward his goals, and there was increased focus on advancing economic justice for Black Americans.
3. For question 19: James Earl Ray, a white supremacist, was arrested and convicted of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.
4. For question 20: President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) signed the bill creating the federal holiday in 1983, and the first official Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated in 1986.

Answer:

1. April 4, 1968; Memphis, Tennessee
2. Widespread racial unrest and rioting in over 100 U.S. cities, national mourning, and continued momentum for civil rights and economic justice initiatives.
3. James Earl Ray
4. Ronald Reagan; 1986