"birmingham or los angeles, the cry is always the same: we want to be free."
Dr. King made numerous trips to Los Angeles before and during the Civil rights movement era. As a progressive cultural melting pot, Los Angeles had to be somewhat re-energizing but also a validation that his work was essential for the world that he saw in his dream to become a reality. Explore our timeline and walk with Dr. King where he visited our beloved city.
jefferson high school
King attended the annual convention for the African-American fraternal group Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World Headquarters. He received the Elijah Lovejoy Award, given to “the person making the most significant contribution toward full citizenships rights of the Negroes”.
Click here to see Hall of Heroes visit this location
1956
next stop
1960
woolworth's & Shrine Auditorium
King joined a protest outside the Woolworth’s in Downtown LA. The chain faced boycotts and sit-ins across the country for discrimination.
He then attended the Democratic National Convention and led 6,000 protesters after NAACP rally from the Shrine Auditorium to the Sports Arena, where the convention was being held.
next stop
1961
lA memorial sports arena
Gave a press conference at LAX followed by a tour of Compton and Watts. Did an interview with the Times while lying in bed at the old Statler Hilton.
Culminated his tour with a Freedom Riders Rally at the Los Angeles Sports Arena attended by 25,000 people; 18,000 inside, and 5,000 outside.
next stop
1961
chapman university
Gave speech titled “Racial Justice and Nonviolent Resistance" before an audience that protested him outside until MLK himself invited them in.
Full Audio Recording here
next stop
1964
second baptist church
King spoke at the Santa Monica Business and Professional Men’s Council with Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Count Basie and others in attendance.
2,000 people heard King speak about three Southern churches burned down for registering African-American voters. “The fact that they were burned indicated that those churches had become so relevant and were doing enough so that somebody wanted to burn them out.”
Click here to see Hall of Heroes visit this location
next stop
1965
ucla
One month after the Selma march, King spoke on the UCLA campus before an enthusiastic crowd of 5,000.
See full speech here
next stop
1965
westminster neighborhood association
King returned to Watts after it's unrest.
“Out of the ashes of this crisis we have the opportunity to deal with the housing problem, to build better schools, to deal with the police problem and perhaps make Los Angeles a model community,” King told reporters at LAX.
next stop
1967
anaheim convention center
Three weeks before his assassination, King spoke before the California Democratic Council.
“I have been working too long and too hard now against segregated public accommodations to end up segregating my moral concern,” he told the crowd. “For since justice is indivisible, injustice anywhere is an affront to justice everywhere.”
Audio available here
next stop
1967
la memorial coliseum
This venue served as the place where King was memorialized on April 7, declared a national day of mourning by Lyndon Johnson days after King’s assassination. Over 20,000 people attended a rally here, with Cesar Chavez as the opening speaker.
“We are here to honor a man whose Montgomery made our Delano possible,” Chavez said. “In the labor movement, let us never forget that [King] died for the right of our workers to organize.”
next stop
jefferson high school
1956
King attended the annual convention for the African-American fraternal group Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World Headquarters. He received the Elijah Lovejoy Award, given to “the person making the most significant contribution toward full citizenships rights of the Negroes”.
Click here to see Hall of Heroes visit this historic location
1958
caltech
During his visit, Dr. King gave the speeches “A Great Time to Be Alive", “Facing the Challenges of a New Age”, and “Progress in Race Relations”.
1960
woolworth's &
Shrine Auditorium
King joined a protest outside the Woolworth’s in Downtown LA. The chain faced boycotts and sit-ins across the country for discrimination.
He then attended the Democratic National Convention and led 6,000 protesters after NAACP rally from the Shrine Auditorium to the Sports Arena, where the convention was being held.
1961
woodland hills community church
King gave two speeches at Woodland Hills Community Church, then an evening lecture at Canoga Park High School just two weeks before he marched on Washington.
1961
los angeles memorial sports arena
Dr. King gave a press conference at LAX followed by a tour of Compton and Watts. He then did an interview with the Times while lying in bed at the old Statler Hilton.
Dr. King culminated his tour with a Freedom Riders Rally at the Los Angeles Sports Arena attended by 25,000 people — 18,000 inside, and 5,000 outside.
1961
santa monica
civic auditorium
Dr. King spoke at the invitation of Calvary Baptist Church and the Santa Monica Business and Professional Men’s Council.
1961
chapman university
He gave a speech titled “Racial Justice and Nonviolent Resistance" before an audience that protested him outside until MLK himself invited them in.
Full Audio Recording here
1962
conner-johnson funeral home chapel
He spent three days visiting churches in Pasadena, Los Angeles, and San Diego and attended the dedication of a chapel at a mortuary owned by Crispus Wright, an influential civil rights attorney.
ward african mthodist episcopal church
1962
Dr. King was scheduled to give a speech here in 1956 but was forced to cancel. He spoke here in 1962 and again in 1963.
1964
second baptist church
Dr. King spoke at the Santa Monica Business and Professional Men’s Council with Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Count Basie, among others in attendance.
2,000 people then heard King speak about three Southern churches that had been burned down for registering African-American voters. “The fact that they were burned indicated that those churches had become so relevant and were doing enough so that somebody wanted to burn them out.”
Click here to see Hall of Heroes visit this historic location
1965
temple israel
of hollywood
He Delivered a speech shortly after he won the Nobel Peace Prize, days after the assassination of Malcolm X. His visit led to the largest-ever Sabbath collection for Temple Israel.
1965
ucla
One month after the Selma march, King spoke on the UCLA campus before an enthusiastic crowd of 5,000.
See full speech here
1965
westminster
neighborhood
association
King returned to Watts after it's unrest. “Out of the ashes of this crisis we have the opportunity to deal with the housing problem, to build better schools, to deal with the police problem and perhaps make Los Angeles a model community,” King told reporters at LAX.
1967
usc
Dr. King gave a nighttime speech at USC’s Bovard Hall. Midway through his speech the auditorium was evacuated after a bomb scare. King returned to finish his message once all was clear.
1967
anaheim convention center
Three weeks before his assassination, King spoke before the California Democratic Council. “I have been working too long and too hard now against segregated public accommodations to end up segregating my moral concern,” he told the crowd. “For since justice is indivisible, injustice anywhere is an affront to justice everywhere.”
Audio available here
1967
los angeles memorial coliseum
This venue served as the place where King was memorialized on April 7, declared a national day of mourning by Lyndon Johnson days after King’s assassination. Over 20,000 people attended a rally here, with Cesar Chavez as the opening speaker.
“We are here to honor a man whose Montgomery made our Delano possible,” Chavez said. “In the labor movement, let us never forget that [King] died for the right of our workers to organize.”
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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