Martin Luther King Jr.’s Controversial Visit(s) to San Diego
San Diego has statues, art halls, and even a park devoted to Martin Luther King Jr., but he wasn’t always a beloved figure in our community. But before we get to that and bury the lead, let’s talk about the title of this article.
There are people who swear that Martin Luther King Jr. never came to San Diego. There are some people that say he has only come once. Some say he has come twice. And then many who say he has been here multiple times.
So, what’s the truth?
He’s been here at least three times.
There are photos, newscasts, and people who are alive today and saw him speak at multiple colleges. King’s famous quote: “We must learn to live together as brothers or we will perish as fools,” was said at SDSU!
But that being said, many people were up in arms when he visited, why?
San Diego might be a hub of diversity and inclusivity today, but America’s Finest City has a rough history when it comes to civil rights. Even anti-segregation politicians thought King was dangerous. And in some ways, he was.
His most famous visit to San Diego was in 1964, that same day his hotel had been shot at in Florida. This led to many people fearing he would be attacked and killed here.
On top of that, an anti-integration coalition had also littered local colleges with pamphlets labeling King as a “dangerous communist.” There was also a lot of political action surrounding Prop 14, a bill that sought to remove the Rumford Act (an act that eliminated discrimination in housing).
King’s speech in 1964 took place at SDSU and “California Western” (which is now Point Loma Nazarene). He delivered an impassioned speech calling for action. He warned people not to be like Rip Van Winkle, the character who slept through the revolutionary war and woke up to find America wasn’t controlled by the British anymore.
His goal was to rally people to stand up and keep fighting, a reminder that the civil rights movement isn’t close to over.
Despite his efforts, 70% San Diego County voted in favor of the bill, meaning the Rumford Act was removed, making discrimination legal in housing. The bill was deemed unconstitutional two years later.
Although San Diego is among one of the most diverse and inclusive places in America, just 60 years ago, it was nicknamed the Mississippi of the West. Neighborhoods were segregated, African Americans were denied loans, and many companies (including SDG&E) refused to hire African Americans. It was the work of people like King and other activists who pushed against social norms and help start a more inclusive world.
If you’d like to read King’s whole speech the San Diego History Center preserved it here: https://sandiegohistory.org/journals/cusp-american-civil-rights-revolution/
This article drew a lot from their write up along with many of the sources they have found and preserved.
Additionally, if you’re wondering why people disagree about when King has been here it’s for a few reasons.
- He visited a family friend once, before he was a global icon.
- His second visit (and his first visit when he had become a celebrity) had him only speaking at churches.
- From what I can understand, the reason why people doubt his third visit is because SDSU didn’t really save much from his time there. Luckily, Point Loma Nazarene University did, although those documents were missing for several decades. Luckily, we have photographs and videos confirming it on top of witness testimony.