Memphis Sanitation Strike and the U.S. Southern Labor Rights Movement (1968)

1. Memphis elects Henry Loeb as mayor

   Jan 1, 1968Labels: Henry Loeb, Memphis Mayor

   • AFSCME Chronology
   • Britannica

2. Echol Cole and Robert Walker killed

   Feb 1, 1968Labels: Echol Cole, Robert Walker

   • King Institute
   • AFSCME Chronology

3. Memphis sanitation workers begin strike

   Feb 12, 1968Labels: AFSCME Local, Sanitation workers

   • Britannica
   • King Institute

4. City issues ultimatum and escalates enforcement

   Feb 14, 1968Labels: City of, Mayor Loeb

   • AFSCME Chronology
   • King Institute

5. City Council supports union; mayor rejects

   Feb 22, 1968Labels: Memphis City, AFSCME Local

   • King Institute
   • AFSCME Chronology

6. Police attack marchers; ministers form COME

   Feb 24, 1968Labels: Community on, Local clergy

   • King Institute
   • Britannica

7. Daily marches expand with student support

   Mar 1, 1968Labels: Students, Daily marches

   • King Institute
   • AFSCME Chronology

8. King addresses mass meeting of supporters

   Mar 18, 1968Labels: Martin Luther, Mass meeting

   • HISTORY
   • Britannica

9. March collapses into unrest; Larry Payne killed

   Mar 28, 1968Labels: Larry Payne, Memphis police

   • King Institute
   • DOJ

10. Loeb calls in National Guard; “I Am a Man” marches continue

    Mar 29, 1968Labels: National Guard, I Am

    • King Institute
    • Britannica

11. King delivers “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”

    Apr 3, 1968Labels: Mason Temple, Ive Been

    • King Institute
    • Mountaintop

12. Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated in Memphis

    Apr 4, 1968Labels: Martin Luther, Assassination

    • King Institute
    • Britannica

13. Silent memorial march draws massive crowd

    Apr 8, 1968Labels: Coretta Scott, Memorial march

    • APM Reports
    • Britannica

14. Strike ends with union recognition and wage gains

    Apr 16, 1968Labels: AFSCME Local, Settlement agreement

    • King Institute
    • Britannica