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- Incredible photos show present-day Washington, DC compared with the explosive 1968 riots that followed Martin Luther King Jr.'s death
Incredible photos show present-day Washington, DC compared with the explosive 1968 riots that followed Martin Luther King Jr.'s death
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at DC's National Cathedral just a few days before his assassination in 1968.
![Incredible photos show present-day Washington, DC compared with the explosive 1968 riots that followed Martin Luther King Jr.'s death](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-63586605%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-1291329%2Frev-martin-luther-king-jr-spoke-at-dcs-national-cathedral-just-a-few-days-before-his-assassination-in-1968-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
After news of his death reached DC, riots erupted across the city.
![After news of his death reached DC, riots erupted across the city.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586604,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1154172/after-news-of-his-death-reached-dc-riots-erupted-across-the-city-.jpg)
The DC Metropolitan Police was over 80% white, despite the city being around 67% black, just one element that contributed to tensions between law enforcement and people living in city.
![The DC Metropolitan Police was over 80% white, despite the city being around 67% black, just one element that contributed to tensions between law enforcement and people living in city.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586603,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1131756/the-dc-metropolitan-police-was-over-80-white-despite-the-city-being-around-67-black-just-one-element-that-contributed-to-tensions-between-law-enforcement-and-people-living-in-city-.jpg)
The riots got so bad that the National Guard had to be called to calm the fury.
![The riots got so bad that the National Guard had to be called to calm the fury.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586602,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1278406/the-riots-got-so-bad-that-the-national-guard-had-to-be-called-to-calm-the-fury-.jpg)
Over 1,700 DC National Guardsmen were federalized and sent to patrol the streets to keep order.
![Over 1,700 DC National Guardsmen were federalized and sent to patrol the streets to keep order.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586601,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1195356/over-1700-dc-national-guardsmen-were-federalized-and-sent-to-patrol-the-streets-to-keep-order-.jpg)
It was the largest deployment of federal soldiers to any American city since the Civil War.
![It was the largest deployment of federal soldiers to any American city since the Civil War.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586599,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1358806/it-was-the-largest-deployment-of-federal-soldiers-to-any-american-city-since-the-civil-war-.jpg)
Firemen were called to burning buildings across Washington as fires destroyed homes and businesses.
![Firemen were called to burning buildings across Washington as fires destroyed homes and businesses.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586598,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1202469/firemen-were-called-to-burning-buildings-across-washington-as-fires-destroyed-homes-and-businesses-.jpg)
Of the 13 people who were killed in the riots, eight died because of fires.
![Of the 13 people who were killed in the riots, eight died because of fires.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586597,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1218035/of-the-13-people-who-were-killed-in-the-riots-eight-died-because-of-fires-.jpg)
DC's inner city economy was effectively ruined. Over 900 businesses were damaged or destroyed, and some areas like Columbia Heights and the U Street corridor were not able to fully recover until the 1990s.
![DC](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586596,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1190138/dcs-inner-city-economy-was-effectively-ruined-over-900-businesses-were-damaged-or-destroyed-and-some-areas-like-columbia-heights-and-the-u-street-corridor-were-not-able-to-fully-recover-until-the-1990s-.jpg)
Looting was chronic during the riots. One police officer reportedly said that "this situation is out of control, we need help it's too much for us to handle."
![Looting was chronic during the riots. One police officer reportedly said that "this situation is out of control, we need help it](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586595,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1153000/looting-was-chronic-during-the-riots-one-police-officer-reportedly-said-that-this-situation-is-out-of-control-we-need-help-its-too-much-for-us-to-handle-.jpg)
Source: Washington Daily News
The destruction seriously lowered the property values in the city and insurance rates increased dramatically.
![The destruction seriously lowered the property values in the city and insurance rates increased dramatically.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586594,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1113717/the-destruction-seriously-lowered-the-property-values-in-the-city-and-insurance-rates-increased-dramatically-.jpg)
The National Guard had to remain in the city after the riot was declared over in order to help police re-establish order and protect against another potential round of riots.
![The National Guard had to remain in the city after the riot was declared over in order to help police re-establish order and protect against another potential round of riots.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586593,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1121561/the-national-guard-had-to-remain-in-the-city-after-the-riot-was-declared-over-in-order-to-help-police-re-establish-order-and-protect-against-another-potential-round-of-riots-.jpg)
A number of politicians toured the damage after the riot was over. Here, Robert F. Kennedy, then a senator for New York and a candidate for president, tours the debris. Kennedy would be assassinated two months later.
![A number of politicians toured the damage after the riot was over. Here, Robert F. Kennedy, then a senator for New York and a candidate for president, tours the debris. Kennedy would be assassinated two months later.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-63586591,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1353119/a-number-of-politicians-toured-the-damage-after-the-riot-was-over-here-robert-f-kennedy-then-a-senator-for-new-york-and-a-candidate-for-president-tours-the-debris-kennedy-would-be-assassinated-two-months-later-.jpg)
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