</s>Volume Number FILE No. 173-1 Serials 366 THRU OF DESROY RIGA. ALUEA INAL A.CHIVES Loud Le-13-1 Loud L-13.1-7 MEXICO D.F. OFFICE OF FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER MX-MEXICO CITY MX-JUCA/CFN-42629W: MX 4t-8/8/6/ Class/ Case # Sub Vol. Serial # 017 3 1 4 366 OPEN BU No. 3/12/399771 RRPOXASHHC ORSELVE (FOR SELECT COMMITTEE PER BULLET 8-15-7711 .DO NOT DESTROY. 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176 REF.

The Department of Justice Task Force report on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s security and assassination investigations of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) outlines a comprehensive review of the bureau’s activities before and after MLK’s death on April 4, 1968. Key findings include the FBI’s extensive surveillance of MLK during the Poor People’s Campaign (POCAM) and the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike, as well as its coordination with local police departments like Memphis Police Department (MPD). The report concludes that while the FBI investigated MLK’s assassination thoroughly, no direct evidence of bureau involvement was found. It highlights the complexity of events surrounding MLK’s death, including logistical challenges in POCAM, tensions during the Memphis strike, and the role of informants such as members of the Black Organization of the South (BOP). The task force also notes that violence during the Memphis march may have influenced public perception of MLK’s leadership.  

Key People  
- **Martin Luther King Jr.**: Central figure; surveilled by FBI and MPD, stayed at Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968, before being shot.  
- **James Earl Ray**: Identified as the perpetrator of MLK’s assassination.  
- **Reverend Ralph Abernathy**: Accompanied MLK at the Lorraine Motel.  
- **Solomon Jones**: MLK’s chauffeur; present at the motel during the shooting.  
- **Philip R. Manuel**: Senate investigator who relayed a threat about a "Negro lieutenant" in Memphis (later corrected to Knoxville).  
- **Detective Edward E. Redditt** and **Patrolman Willie B. Richmond**: MPD officers involved in surveilling MLK; Redditt faced threats on his life.  
- **Norvell E. Wallace** and **Floyd E. Newsum**: Black firemen reassigned from Fire Station No. 2 due to security concerns.  
- **Patrolman Douglas**, **Wright**, **Dufour**, **Dollahite**, **Morris**, **Baker**, **Landers**, **Maley**, **Dum**, and **Gormley**: MPD officers present at the Lorraine Hotel and surrounding areas during the assassination.  

Key Locations  
- **Lorraine Motel, Memphis, Tennessee**: Where MLK was shot while on the balcony of Room 306.  
- **South Main Street, Memphis**: Location of the shooting; witnesses reported the gun originated from buildings along this street.  
- **Fire Station No. 2, Memphis**: Initial gathering point for MPD officers responding to the assassination.  
- **Mulberry Street, Memphis**: Site of concrete retaining wall and securing efforts by officers.  
- **Jim's Grill and Canip's Amusement Company**: Locations secured by Dollahite during the investigation.  
- **Building north of Fire Station No. 2 on South Main Street**: Where the shot was fired, as per witness accounts.  

Key Events  
- **April 4, 1968**: MLK was shot while leaving the Lorraine Motel; James Earl Ray was later identified as the perpetrator.  
- **Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike (February–April 1968)**: Led by AFSCME, supported by NAACP and local black community groups, culminating in violent clashes on March 28.  
- **Poor People’s Campaign (POCAM)**: MLK’s nationwide poverty initiative disrupted by logistical issues; shifted focus to Memphis after the sanitation strike.  
- **FBI Surveillance**: Extensive monitoring of MLK, including wiretaps, informants, and coordination with MPD.  
- **MPD Security Operations**: Officers secured areas around the Lorraine Hotel and Fire Station No. 2, noting suspicious items like a green bedspread covering a blue suitcase and rifle.  
- **Post-Assassination Investigation**: Conflicting accounts of officers’ movements and observations at the scene; Landers discovered fresh footprints in an alley near Mulberry Street.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted surveillance on MLK and investigated his assassination.  
- **Memphis Police Department (MPD)**: Coordinated with FBI to monitor MLK and secure the scene post-assassination.  
- **Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)**: Led by MLK; involved in POCAM and Memphis strike support.  
- **American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)**: Organized the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike.  
- **Black Organization of the South (BOP)**: Monitored by FBI; linked to militant group the Invaders.

MLK Declassified Files

173-mx-1_sec_004_ser_366-part_1_of_5.pdf

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