In Pictures

Remembering Martin Luther King

Tributes paid to Martin Luther King Jr on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the civil rights leader.

A sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. is part of the memorial "Landmark for Peace" commemorating the site where Robert Kennedy delivered his words on the night of King''s assassination in Indianapolis, — A sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr is part of the memorial 'Landmark for Peace' commemorating the site where Robert Kennedy delivered his words on the night of King's assassination. The park, where Kennedy called for peace and unity just hours after MLK's assassination, is being designated a National Historic Site. [Michael Conroy/AP Photo]

The Americans have marked 50 years since the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, a day seared into the national consciousness that transformed the Civil Rights leader into a symbol of the fight for racial equality.

In a country still torn over issues of race and class, demonstrators on Wednesday rallied in Memphis, Tennessee, where the pastor and Nobel Peace Prize winner was killed on the balcony of his motel by a white supremacist.

Rallies were also held in Washington, DC, where he delivered his historic “I have a dream” speech.

People march in an I AM 2018 March and Rally during events surrounding the 50th anniversary of the death of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. April 4, 2018. REUTER — The 'I AM 2018' march during events surrounding the 50th anniversary of the death of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr in Memphis, Tennessee, US. [Karen Pulfer Focht/Reuters]

Rev. Jessie Jackson (left) pauses after placing a wreath on the balcony at the Lorraine Hotel, now the National Civil Right Museum, during events surrounding the 50th anniversary of the death of civil — Reverend Jessie Jackson, left, places a wreath on the balcony at the Lorraine Hotel, now the National Civil Right Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, US. [Karen Pulfer Focht/Reuters]

Attendees are seen during a silent march and rally on the National Mall to mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of slain civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington, U.S., — People attend a silent march on the National Mall to mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr in Washington, DC. [Eric Thayer/Reuters]

Attendees are seen during a silent march and rally on the National Mall to mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington, U.S., April — The Martin Luther King Jr Memorial in Washington, DC, on the 50th anniversary of the civil rights leader's assassination. [Eric Thayer/Reuters]

Wearing a t-shirt of Martin Luther King, Jr., Debra Payne, of Kansas City, Missouri, sings "This Little Light of Mine," next to Jo-Lynn Gilliam, of East Point, Ga., as they attend the A.C.T. To End Ra — Debra Payne, of Kansas City, Missouri, sings 'This Little Light of Mine' next to Jo-Lynn Gilliam, of East Point, Georgia, as they attend the ACT To End Racism rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr's assassination. [Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo]

Visitors pose with an I Am A Man mural near the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis during events surrounding the 50th anniversary of the death of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in Mem — The 'I Am A Man' mural near the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. [Karen Pulfer Focht/Reuters]

Dr. Bernice King, daughter of MLK, speaks inside Mason Temple COGIC, the site of Dr. King''s prophetic "I''ve been to the Mountaintop" speech, during events surrounding the 50th anniversary of the death — Dr Bernice King, daughter of MLK, speaks inside Mason Temple COGIC, the site of her father's s prophetic 'I've been to the Mountaintop' speech, during events surrounding the 50th anniversary of the death of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. [Karen Pulfer Focht/Reuters]

A group of teenagers from Pearl, Mississippi, walk along U.S. highway 61 just south of Memphis, on their 50-mile "March to Memphis" tribute to Martin Luther King., Jr. during events surrounding the 50 — A group of teenagers from Pearl, Mississippi, walk along US highway 61 just south of Memphis, on their 50-mile 'March to Memphis' tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. [Karen Pulfer Focht/Reuters]