They Slew a dreamer

"You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other mans freedom. You can only be free if I am free."(Clarence Darrow)

"We have entered into a new age of oppression, by our government" say those people unhappy with the Chief executive. "Clinton's administration hides, cover ups , tyrannized and suppresses anyone who speaks against them"

Suppression by the government, if such accusation be fact, did not start, nor increase with the election of Bill Clinton. Perhaps individuals of differing politics now see themselves as the underdog, and a target for control or repression. Many of these same people who in another time, another place, held the winning hands, worried little of the then oppressed.

In Memphis on April 4^th 1968, at 6:01 PM a shot cut through the evening sky. A shot destined to throw the United States, and many parts of the world into chaos. Dr. Martin Luther King, Civil Rights leader, trailblazer for equality, was gunned down at the Lorrine Motel.

Kings life was one of controversy, as was his death. Time hasn't quelled doubts about the King assassination. Questions of who, why, and what have increased over the years. King's friends and associates question the official version of the murder.

"I have always believed that the government was part of a conspiracy, either directly or indirectly, to assassinate Dr Martin Luther King" stated Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Entertainer Dick Gregory has also had doubts as to the 'official version' of Kings Killing. He expressed his doubts in a book he co-authored (Murder in Memphis) with Mark Lane.

Answer to the questions do not add up to truth. James Earl Ray, admitted assassin, first purchased then exchanged a rifle, giving the sales people a better chance to Identify him. Why? The Original rifle would have been more than adequate to kill King. If he were the sole assassin why wouldn't he get the right gun in the first place? Ray said a Shadowy figure named Raoul told him to get the new gun. Raoul is the person Ray claimed to be the king pin behind the assassination of King.

Proponents of the single gunman theory spout 'people only find a conspiracy because they cannot accept the death of a loved figure', or 'others write books, based on deception to capitalize on the dead'. An armchair analysis might reveal such proponents are deceiving themselves because they fear disturbing their simple 'leave it to beaver' world in which they believe we live. In other cases, they themselves distort the truth.

McMillion in his book "The making of an Assassin", reported the image of Ray fixated on a TV, brimming with hate saying, "Saying Lucifer King" and "someone gotta get him!". TV's were not allowed in the Missouri prison where Ray was serving time during the duration of the alleged Viewing (1963-1964).

What of the advocates of the government conspiracy? Are they the 'McCarthy's' of this era? Rather then seeing a communist behind every bush, do they view a conspiracy following any adverse event?

Did the government have motive? Was the government threatened by King and his movement? Was investigation adequate? FBI agents placed in charge of the probe of Kings assassination, were the same group, along with J. Edgar Hoover, who had been bent on destroying King. These agents had earlier falsified evidence, that pointed to King, and the Civil Rights movement as communist and/or communist inspired. Actually, Communist party members were participants of Kings movement at the lower levels, but King was not a communist. And he had been, it was still no excuse for repression or death. Strangely, numerous individuals to this day vainly cling to this misinformation.

Testimony of FBI Agents who bravely broke the silence before House and Senate committees, and FBI files since released, tell of J. Edgar Hoovers obsession to destroy King;

Tapes doctored and sent to civil rights headquarters. The tape accusing King of having an extramarital affair. The enclosed note strongly suggesting King Kill himself or the tape would be made public.

The infamous bombing of the 16^th street Baptist church in 1964. A church involved in Kings civil rights movement. Informant Gary Thomas Rowe had called the FBI informing them of the bombing one hour before it happened. The FBI did nothing to prevent the explosion. Four children died in the blast.

If the FBI allowed the death of children would they also turn a blind eye to assassination?

Would the fact King inspired tens of thousands to stand up and take action, be government motive for death? On April 4 1967, a year to the day before the assassination, King announced public opposition to the Vietnam war, and called for both blacks and whites to refuse to serve in Vietnam. The response in the Johnson White house came in the form of Johnson telling a cabinet member "That God damn nigger preacher may drive me from the White house"

Agent Art Murtagh, reported that an FBI supervisor jumped for joy when he herd of the King shooting while shouting "They got Zoro! (FBI code name for King) I hope the Son of a bitch dies!"

Grace Stephens, a witness to Kings Assassin, was recently released from a mental facility, after she had been illegally detained over years since the assassination. She was detained in these establishments under several different names

The other witness Charles Q Stephens, Graces Husband, was intoxicated at the time of the assassination, and was not wearing his glasses. These factors would have made a positive ID of the assassin by Charles near impossible. Grace had repeatedly refused to ID Ray as the man she saw in the rooming house with what appeared to be a rifle.

Even artist sketches of the alleged assassin handed out soon after the murder, didn't look anything like Ray.

Arthur Haines Sr, member of defense team exploring evidence, listen to tapes of the police broadcast on the night in question. At 6:10 a call came over the radio that the suspect (Kings Assassin) was driving a white mustang. According the official account, no one could have informed the police what Kings assassin was driving, as no one knew who killed King minutes after the assassination. Later reports were made that the mustang was teenagers messing around. Why was there never an arrest, or a real investigation into this alleged prank.

Why was security reduced before the assassination? Detective Ed Reddit, and W.B. Richmond where the sole security for King provided by the city police. On all other occasions security numbered ten. Approximately 30 minutes before the assassination, Mr Reddit was ordered to go home. The secret Service informed his supervisor (Mr Holloman) he (Reddit) had hit placed on him.

Why where others who might have interfered with the killers flight removed on the day of the assassination? Two such people were Mr Newsum and N.E. Wallace. Both firemen were stationed in plain view of the Lorrine Newsum and Wallace were strong supporters of King. They were activist. It is likely they would have done everything within their power to save King, or at the very least would have tried to stop the assassins escape. Oddly both were transferred by their supervisor to another fire station prior to the incident, and were returned a few days later.

The window from which the shot was allegedly fired was obstructed by a tree. Why would an assassin pick a location with an obstructed view? The tree in question was removed a few days after Kings Death. Soloman Jones and Harold Carter said they saw someone flee from the bushes near the window, carrying what appeared to be a gun immediately after they heard the shot that killed King. They believed the gunfire came from the same bushes.

The bullet that killed King was not examined and compared under a microscope. Such routine action would have aided in identifying rays gun as the murder weapon. Frazier, the states ballistic expert claimed that the King death slug was a common 30.06 slug, the same type gun Ray had purchased.

The Palm print in the bathroom of the rooming house, and finger prints in the room the assassin rented, were widely reported to be Rays. According to inspector Zachary, neither the palm print nor finger prints proved to be Ray's.

Ray had no means of personal support. Without outside help how could he have fled to Europe? Did Raoul help? FBI investigation reported Ray conducted a series of armed robberies to pay his bills. Attorney Waldron, for the defense, presented evidence suggesting Ray was in Canada during the time frame of many of the robberies.

Interestingly, alias's Ray used while on the run, (George Sneyd, Paul Bridgeham, Eric Galt, and John Willard) were actual names of people who lived in Toronto fitting the same basic description as Ray. How could Ray, with no Canadian contacts, come up with these striking similarities?

Ray pled guilty. A trial, that might have answered questions was not held.

As to government conspiracy - would our government take part in assassination of American citizens? Has any similar behavior by our government occurred before or since the King assassination? What of....

Professor McCoys report in his book "the politics of heroin" that the Phoenix program was a CIA mission overseas to oversee the assassination of Vietnamese civilians who where accused of aiding the enemy. William Colby, former CIA Director was liaison to this program. Interestingly, it was the same Mr Colby who just happened to discover Frank Nugan dead of a 'self inflected gun shot wound." Mr Nugan was associated with the Nugan Hand bank. This financial institution had two strange traits (1) Ex-CIA agents clustered within its ranks. (2)Being heavily involved in South East Asia drug trafficking

Veteran DEA agent retired, Michael Levine reported in his book 'deep cover' that the Roberto Suarez organization began a revolution, aided by the CIA. The revolution ousted the government that had assisted the DEA drug investigations. At revolutions end, along with the mass deaths of Bolivians, drug traffickers gained control of Bolivia's Suarez organization.

Levine also said Lt Col Oliver North was given classified information from the DEA. From these facts he learned Barry Seal was an informant who infiltrated the Medellin Drug Cartel. Mr North requested that Mr Seal be used in Norths Central American activities. North Threatened to blow Mr Seals cover if this did not occur. It didn't. Barry Seal's cover was exposed Barry Seal was assassinated.

On April 15 1994 25 years after the King assassination, a Tennessee judge ruled that James Earl Ray would be allowed to subpoena witnesses to prove his innocence. Perhaps the truth will finally be determined.

With the truth, we will be able to start healing this nations wounds, and perhaps look forward to the finalization of Martin Luther King's Dream.

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