The prominent civil rights leader assassinated in 1968 was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a pivotal figure in the American civil rights movement, advocating for nonviolent protest against racial segregation and discrimination. King's leadership in events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, earned him widespread recognition and respect. His assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, shocked the nation and spurred significant social upheaval. King's legacy continues to influence civil rights activism and the ongoing struggle for racial equality in the United States.