Watch The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306

The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306 is a powerful documentary that depicts the last days of Martin Luther King Jr. The film is set in Memphis, Tennessee where King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel. The story is told through the eyes of Reverend Samuel "Billy" Kyles, who was an eyewitness to the tragedy, and civil rights leaders Benjamin Hooks and Maxine Smith.

The documentary opens with Kyles visiting the Lorraine Motel 40 years after the assassination. He reflects on his time there with King and the events leading up to his death. Kyles takes the audience on a journey through the civil rights movement in Memphis and how King, who originally came to Memphis to support the sanitation workers' strike, became a target of hate groups and the FBI.

The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306 gives an inside look at King's final moments. Kyles was with King on the balcony of room 306 at the Lorraine Motel when he was shot. Kyles shares the intimate details of the incident and how he tried to save King's life. As Kyles describes the tragedy, the film shows footage of the aftermath including King's body being carried away by paramedics and the reactions of the crowd.

The documentary includes interviews with Hooks and Smith, who reflect on King's impact on the civil rights movement, as well as their personal experiences working alongside King. Hooks, who was a lawyer and leader in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), discusses the challenges of fighting for civil rights in the South during the 1960s. Smith, who was also a civil rights activist and school board member, shares her memories of King's visits to Memphis and his leadership in the struggle for justice and equality.

The film also examines the role of the FBI in the civil rights movement. The FBI had a secret program called COINTELPRO that aimed to disrupt and discredit groups that they saw as a threat to national security. The program targeted King and other civil rights leaders with wiretapping, surveillance, and false accusations. The documentary reveals how the FBI, through its actions, may have played a role in King's death.

The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306 is a profound tribute to King's legacy and his fight for social justice. Through the eyes of Kyles, Hooks, and Smith, the film offers a unique perspective on one of the most tragic moments in American history. The documentary is an important reminder of the progress that has been made in the fight for civil rights, but also of the struggle that still remains.

Overall, The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306 is a moving and informative documentary that offers a fresh perspective on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The film is a must-see for anyone interested in the civil rights movement and its impact on American history.

The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306 is a 2009 documentary with a runtime of 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.