Martin Luther King Jr.’s Final Speech To Be Replayed In NYC

WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK, NY — The audio recording of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s final speech will be played in full on Tuesday at Washington Square Park, during a ceremony to mark 50 years since his death.

King delivered his famous speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop," on April 3, 1968, the day before he was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn.

"Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now," King said in the speech. "I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!"

The next day, King was assassinated by James Earl Ray as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray will light the arch in Washington Square Park on Tuesday before playing the full audio recording of the speech. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

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