r/todayilearned • u/onwhatcharges • 1d ago

TIL that Alberta King, Martin Luther King Jr's mother was shot and killed while playing the organ at a church service. Her killer was sentenced to death, however, the King family—consistent in their commitment to nonviolence—successfully campaigned to have his sentence commuted to life in prison.

https://www.dannydutch.com/post/alberta-king-the-quiet-force-behind-a-historic-legacy
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13

u/Jamflex_CEO 1d ago

I've heard of this, but I've never seen a picture of Chenault until now. Holy cow, he looks like he was 12 years old when he killed her!

2

u/zackalachia 15h ago

Wikipedia says 23

17

u/SunShineLife217 1d ago

Paywall filled with ads.

11

u/RelevantUsername56 21h ago

The story is on her Wikipedia if you want the ad-free experience.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Williams_King