The 1968 DC Riots: A Personal Reflection

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on April 4, 1968 sparked riots in more than 100 U.S. cities. The nation's capital saw some of the most extensive violence and destruction.

On April 5, President Lyndon Johnson dispatched nearly 13,000 federal troops to assist the Metropolitan Police Department. When the disturbance had ended on April 13, there were 12 people dead, 1,097 injuries, nearly 6,000 arrests and approximately 1,200 burned-out buildings.

What was it like in the District of Columbia during this turbulent time? Gerald Padgett, a social worker, will discuss his memories. In 2007, the native Washingtonian retired from Reston Interfaith Inc. in Virginia (now Cornerstones, Inc.), a non-profit social service agency dedicated to helping people build stable lives by connecting them to vital resources.

In the late 1960s, Mr. Padgett served as programs director at the District of Columbia's Kingman Boys and Girls Club.

Teenagers, in recognition of King Week, you do not want to miss this fascinating talk!

See you on Thursday, Jan. 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m.!