Bruce R. Watkins Protest March Photograph

1968

Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., hundreds of communities across the country witnessed protests. This photograph depicts Bruce R. Watkins leading a group of students to City Hall during the Kansas City uprising in April 1968. The image captures the emotion of Mr. Watkins and the crowd on I-70 on a mission for justice. Watkins, the Jackson County Circuit Court Clerk at the time, played a key role in validating the protest. The photograph also illustrates the peaceful nature of the march prior to the outbreak of the riot. The picture is part of the 1968 Riot collection housed at LaBudde Special Collection, UMKC, and was taken in April of 1968.

Object Details

Categories: Civil Rights, People, Politics & Government

Date: 1968

County: Jackson

Region: Kansas City Metro

Latitude: 39.099876

Longitude: -94.577965