On April 4, 1968, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on a motel balcony in Memphis.

Today, Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of the slain civil rights leader, wants to change the focus of the anniversary of his father's death.

The Martin Luther King III Institute for Social Justice and Human Rights and the Prevention Institute  will sponsor a program "April 4th Revisited: Saving Lives, Building Dreams!" during a day-long program at the Carter Center.

Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The program includes  panel discussions on youth violence prevention, how to build a peaceful community and violence as a public health issue. Speakers include include actor Tyrese Gibson;  Angel Ponce, a youth violence prevention activist; former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young;  and Dr. Howard Spivak, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Tracy Woodard from InTown Cares (left) and Lauren Hopper from Mercy Care organization work with residents at the Copperton Street encampment in August 2024. 
(Miguel Martinez / AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez