Martin Luther King, Jr.

U.S. congressional leaders are marking the 40th anniversary of the assassination of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr.

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will speak during a ceremony on Capitol Hill, along with other top U.S. lawmakers at the event to honor the legacy of the slain civil rights leader.

The ceremony Thursday comes on the eve of the anniversary of when King was shot and killed as he stood on the balcony of his hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Republican presidential candidate John McCain and Democratic contender Hillary Clinton will be in Memphis Friday to mark the anniversary.

Martin Luther King, Jr., led a campaign of non-violent protests against segregation and discrimination against African Americans during the 1950s and 1960s.  His efforts led to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and at the age of 35, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.