$1.2M federal civil rights landmarks grant will help restore Memphis church tied to MLK’s final speech

The Church of God in Christ in Memphis, TN has received a $1.2 million federal grant, secured by local U.S. Representative Steve Cohen. The funding will support the renovation of the Mason Temple, helping to preserve the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his final speech before his assassination in 1968. Part of an $18 million congressional appropriations package, the grant will fund long-term facility and technology upgrades. An additional $3.1 million will also support restoration efforts at the nearby Clayborn Temple. The public funding aims to safeguard civil rights landmarks, improve infrastructure, and expand educational and community access to historically significant spaces.