The 50^th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination was commemorated Friday in Dallas amidst prayers and tears. President Kennedy was only 46 when he was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas. His assassination marks one of the darkest moments in the American history.

“Our collective hearts were broken,” Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings told a crowd of about 5,000 who came to remember JFK in Dealey Plaza where Kennedy was assassinated. “A new era dawned and another waned a half century ago when hope and hatred collided right here in Dallas,” Rawlings said.

Kennedy is remembered  for his youthful vigor, his handling of the Cuban missile crisis as well as the founding of the Peace Corps.  Several people attending the event recounted how important JFK was to America’s History.

“If that hadn’t happened, history might have changed. He was a different kind of president,” said Douglas Ducharme, a Canadian attending the event.

During the event, there were a few scuffles along the perimeter fence around the Dealey plaza between the police and the protesters. There were also some conspiracy theorists who want to take part in the event. Others wanted attention for their concerns about police brutality in Dallas.

As a result of JFK assassination, several conspiracy theories have been formed as to how he was shot. Conspiracy theorists have expressed doubt about the findings of the official warren commission claiming that the gunman Harvey Oswald might have acted alone. Conspiracy theorists have blamed Fidel Castro, the mob, the CIA,  the  Secret Service, Lyndon Johnson among others.

A recent Gallup poll  showed that 61%  percent of Americans believe that Oswald did not act alone. Though that percentage may seem high, its the lowest its been since the 1960s.

Oswald shot the president from the 6^th floor of the Texas School Book Depository as Kennedy rode in an open presidential limo. Two days later after the assassination, Oswald was shot dead by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby while in police custody.

Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone? Film director Oliver Stone gives his opinion.

(Source NBC News  and main image via Wikipedia)