Memphis sanitation workers’ strike, 64-day labor conflict in the winter and spring of 1968 that brought Martin Luther King, Jr., to Memphis, Tennessee. The striking workers sought higher wages, better working conditions, and the right to form a union. At the height of the conflict, King, members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and local leaders led thousands of Black protesters and strike supporters on a march down Beale Street in downtown Memphis. The strike reflected King’s efforts through the Poor People’s Campaign to build an interracial coalition based on shared economic interests and to link economic injustice with ...(100 of 1562 words) Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!