Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
He was shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, by James Earl Ray.
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The Kangra earthquake in India killed over 20,000 people.
Finland officially joined NATO, becoming the 31st member of the security alliance.
Adolf Hitler formed the Schutzstaffel, the infamous paramilitary organization known to most as the SS.
Jack Ma founded Alibaba Group Holding Limited.
NASA's Challenger Space Shuttle was launched from Florida on its maiden voyage.
