When The West Side Burned
The tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in April 1968 triggered unrest across the country, but in Chicago, the rage and grief that erupted in the city’s Black community led to an unprecedented period of public mourning, looting, and destruction on the city’s West Side.
Examine King’s close ties to Chicago and the hope he brought to residents, how his murder brought long-simmering resentment over segregation and discrimination to a boiling point, and how this still-recovering neighborhood struggles to move forward.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2026
4 PM | Screening | When the West Side Burned — A Chicago Stories Documentary
5 PM | Dinner (local west side restaurants will vend in lobby)
6 PM | Conversation
West Side leaders joins Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and share memories of Dr. King, the hope he brought to Chicago, and how his assassination brought long-simmering resentment over segregation and discrimination to a boiling point, and how this still-recovering neighborhood continues the work of moving forward.
7 PM | Concert
This concert will feature footage and expansive music compositions from the documentary, along with the music that defined this turbulent time in U.S. history. Original Music: Orbert Davis
Tickets: $2/person
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3362913-0
