The civil rights leader assassinated in 1968 was Martin Luther King Jr.. An iconic figure in the American civil rights movement, King advocated for nonviolent resistance to combat racial injustice. His leadership during pivotal events, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the historic March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, solidified his status as a symbol of hope and change. King's assassination deeply affected the civil rights landscape, galvanizing demands for equality and civil justice within the United States.