Attempted Arson at MLK Jr.'s Birth Home Thwarted by Bystanders and NYPD Officers
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The New York Times
Bystanders, including two off-duty police officers and two tourists, intervened and stopped a 26-year-old woman from setting fire to the home where Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta. The woman had poured gasoline on the porch and door of the house, but the quick actions of the bystanders prevented any damage. She was arrested and charged with attempted arson and interference with government property. The incident highlighted the importance of the historic property and raised concerns about the woman's mental well-being.