</s>157-2433 THRU15P-2412 2+4+3-4-4 4 Thanked C. 7oc. O. FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER MM - MIAMI MM-01-057-00018: MM Class / Case # Sub Vol. Serial # 0157 2434 1 1 OPEN 7107/197487 RRP0008FOX 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The documents contain FBI records detailing investigations into potential threats against Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) following his assassination on April 4, 1968, and subsequent racial tensions. On April 4, 1968, Bob McGowan in Memphis, Tennessee, reported overhearing three white males discussing plans to burn or detonate MLK’s church at the intersection of Brooks Avenue and Highway 61. The FBI instructed agents to contact McGowan for further details and arrange a meeting away from his residence. On April 5, 1968, an FBI memorandum noted that a confidential source within the Miami Communist Party reported a meeting of its Coordinating Committee on April 4, 1968, where members discussed MLK’s assassination, expressed shock, and planned to mobilize supporters for protests, marches, and calls for martial law in Tennessee. The documents also reference administrative directives to standardize reporting protocols for racial incidents linked to MLK’s assassination. A 1976 memo referenced a probe into John F. Kennedy’s assassination involving Willie Summerset, an FBI informant, though this appears unrelated to MLK’s case. Additional records include file numbers (e.g., 157-2434, 44-1854) and administrative notes about document handling and classification.  

A separate summary details inmate Robert Byron Watson at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Perrine, Florida, who claimed he overheard co-owners Gene Purcell and Jerry Adams of Magellans and Gallery in Atlanta planning to assassinate MLK in 1968. Watson, a white male born August 8, 1953, had multiple narcotics-related arrests since 1970. Public Safety Commissioner A. Reginald Eaves of Atlanta investigated claims based on Watson’s statement provided by Dick Gregory, a civil activist and entertainer. The documents also reference the transfer of serial-numbered files (e.g., Miami file 44-1854) to the FBI Bureau with instructions for reproducing only the first page of certain documents if copies had been submitted. Communications between the FBI and Secret Service mention threats against protected individuals, including MLK, and planned demonstrations at the White House.  

Key People  
- **Bob McGowan**: Reported overheard conversation about plans to harm MLK’s church in Memphis.  
- **Eugene L. Payne**: FBI agent in Fort Lauderdale who received information from McGowan.  
- **John F. Colton**: FBI agent in Miami involved in monitoring racial tensions and civil rights matters.  
- **Gene Purcell**: Co-owner of Magellans and Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia; allegedly discussed assassination plans with Jerry Adams.  
- **Jerry Adams**: Co-owner of Magellans and Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia; allegedly planned assassination of MLK.  
- **A. Reginald Eaves**: Public Safety Commissioner of Atlanta, Georgia; investigated claims based on Watson’s statement.  
- **Dick Gregory**: Civil activist and entertainer; provided information to Eaves about Watson’s allegations.  
- **Robert Byron Watson**: Inmate at FCI Perrine, Florida; claimed he overheard plans to assassinate MLK in 1968.  

Key Locations  
- **Memphis, Tennessee**: Site of the alleged plot against MLK’s church.  
- **Miami, Florida**: FBI field office involved in file management and coordination with local authorities (e.g., Miami Police Department, Dade County Public Safety).  
- **Clarksville, Mississippi**: Location of McGowan’s residence.  
- **FCI Perrine, Florida**: Federal Correctional Institution where Robert Byron Watson was incarcerated.  
- **Magellans and Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia**: Establishment where Watson allegedly overheard assassination plans.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Headquarters of the Department of Justice and Secret Service.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK’s assassination in Memphis; subsequent FBI investigation into potential retaliatory actions.  
- **April 5, 1968**: Miami Communist Party meeting discussing responses to MLK’s death, including calls for martial law and protests.  
- **April 10, 1968**: FBI directive to standardize reporting protocols for racial incidents linked to MLK’s assassination.  
- **Inmate Robert Byron Watson alleged he overheard co-owners Gene Purcell and Jerry Adams planning to assassinate MLK in 1968.**  
- **Public Safety Commissioner A. Reginald Eaves investigated claims based on Watson’s statement provided by Dick Gregory.**  
- **FBI and Secret Service communications referenced threats against protected individuals, including MLK, and planned demonstrations at the White House.**  
- **Serial-numbered files (e.g., Miami file 44-1854) were transferred to the Bureau with instructions for reproducing only the first page of certain documents.**  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Central agency coordinating investigations, intelligence gathering, and administrative protocols.  
- **Miami Police Department**: Collaborated with the FBI on local security and incident reporting.  
- **Dade County Department of Public Safety**: Involved in monitoring civil unrest and racial tensions post-assassination.  
- **Miami Communist Party**: Discussed responses to MLK’s assassination, including mobilizing members for protests and advocacy.  
- **Department of Justice**: Oversaw federal investigations and coordination with the FBI.  
- **Secret Service**: Involved in discussions regarding threats against protected individuals.

MLK Declassified Files

157-mm-2434_sec_001_ser_1.pdf

Document Summary

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