Conspiracy Theories Haunt the Assassination of MLK 55 Years After His Death

Conspiracy Theories Haunt the Assassination of MLK 55 Years After His Death

Doubts about James Earl Ray, Dr. Martin Luther King’s lone assassin, arose almost immediately after the civil rights leader was fatally shot on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on April 4, 1968. From the start, his aides voiced suspicions that a conspiracy was responsible for their leader’s death. Over time many Americans became convinced the government investigations covered up the truth about the alleged assassin. Exactly what led Ray to kill King continues to be a source of debate, as does his role in the murder.

However, today’s guest, Mel Ayton, believe the answers to the many intriguing questions about Ray and how conspiracy ideas flourished can now be fully understood. Missing from the wild speculations over the past fifty-two years has been a thorough investigation of the character of King’s assassin. Additionally, the author examines exactly how the conspiracy notions came about and the falsehoods that led to their promulgation.

Mel is the author of The Man Who Killed Martin Luther King, the first full account of the life of James Earl Ray based on scores of interviews provided to government and non-government investigators and from the FBI’s and Scotland Yard’s files, plus the recently released Tennessee Department of Corrections prison record on Ray.


In the short-lived freedom he acquired after escaping from the Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967, following being sentenced to twenty years in prison for repeated offenses, he traveled to Los Angeles and decided to seek notoriety as the one who would stalk and kill Dr. King, who he had come to hate vehemently.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jaksot(1075)

What Happened to Places Like Catalonia After Rome’s Fall?

What Happened to Places Like Catalonia After Rome’s Fall?

Today's question comes to us from Nate Finch: I would love for you to do a podcast (series?) on Mediterranean "empires" after Rome (e.g. the Catalonian "empire", which extended all the way to Italy, t...

13 Kesä 20177min

Was Hitler a Christian, Atheist, or Something Else? — Richard Weikart

Was Hitler a Christian, Atheist, or Something Else? — Richard Weikart

No matter how little you know about history, you know something about Adolf Hitler. And if you want to shut down an opponent, you can claim that Hitler said/did/believed the same thing. Godwin's Law e...

12 Kesä 20171h

Who Was WW2 Spy Zig-Zag?

Who Was WW2 Spy Zig-Zag?

Today's question comes from Dean Wallace: Could you tell me about the career of [World War Two] agent Zigzag?     WANT ME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HISTORY? Click here to learn more.     TO HELP O...

9 Kesä 20178min

What Is The World’s Oldest University?

What Is The World’s Oldest University?

Today's question comes from James Ganong: Could you please tell me the history of oldest university? I think it is in Egypt...   WANT ME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HISTORY? Click here to learn more...

8 Kesä 20177min

Tell Me About the Varangians (The Vikings of Russia)

Tell Me About the Varangians (The Vikings of Russia)

Today's question is about the Varangians, a group of Vikings that conquered Kievan Rus and became the first rulers of the Russian state. I'd love it if you could talk about Kievan-Rus, the Rurik dynas...

7 Kesä 20175min

Can We Really Know Anything in History Or Is It All Fake News?

Can We Really Know Anything in History Or Is It All Fake News?

Today's question comes from C. M. Ho: How much of history has been the figment of some power hungry person or group? Some historians or those that call themselves historians are not adhering to the tr...

6 Kesä 20177min

Every President’s Go-to Drink, From Washington’s Whisky to Obama’s Homebrew—Mark Will-Weber

Every President’s Go-to Drink, From Washington’s Whisky to Obama’s Homebrew—Mark Will-Weber

There are books about presidents. There are books about cocktails. Then there are books that create and attribute a cocktail to each of the 45 U.S. presidents. Journalist and editor Mark Will-Weber ha...

5 Kesä 20171h 18min

What Were French Trappers Doing in 1700s America?

What Were French Trappers Doing in 1700s America?

Today's question comes from Suzanne: I would enjoy anything about the French in North America, Canada and the US, early American History of the Michigan Territory, Seven Years War, etc.   WANT ME TO A...

2 Kesä 20176min

Suosittua kategoriassa Yhteiskunta

olipa-kerran-otsikko
sita
siita-on-vaikea-puhua
kaksi-aitia
i-dont-like-mondays
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
uutiscast
poks
antin-palautepalvelu
rss-nikotellen
mamma-mia
kolme-kaannekohtaa
yopuolen-tarinoita-2
aikalisa
rss-murhan-anatomia
meidan-pitais-puhua
rss-palmujen-varjoissa
rss-haudattu
naakkavalta
mystista