Martin Luther King Day observed in S.D. 50 years ago
Fifty years ago, San Diego Mayor Frank Curran proclaimed Jan. 15, 1971 “Dr. Martin Luther King Day” in San Diego in honor of the Black civil rights leader and minister slain in 1968.
In the proclamation the mayor said: “Dr. Martin Luther King devoted his life to the single purpose of improving conditions for his race and left a record as one of the great religious and social leaders of our times.” MLK Day become a federal holiday in in 1986.
From The San Diego Union, Friday, Jan. 15, 1971:
CONTRIBUTION OF DR. KING TO NATION HONORED HERE
“There are some who loved him, there are others who hated him, but everyone respected him for what he believed.”
That was the message given yesterday about the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at an observance of his 41st birthday at the Sportsman, 5079 Logan Ave.
The speaker was a former high school classmate of King’s in Atlanta, the Rev. James Allison, pastor of New Hope Friendship Baptist Church, 2205 Harrison Ave.
The celebration was sponsored by the Economic Opportunity Commission of San Diego County.
TELLS OF DREAM
Recounting the achievements and beliefs of Dr. King, head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Rev. Mr. Allison said it was Dr. King’s dream that “white and black live together in harmony.”
Dr. King, born January 15, 1929, was killed by a sniper’s bullets during a visit to Memphis, Tenn. on April 4, 1968.
The Rev. Mr. Allison said he renewed his acquaintanceship with Dr. King during the latter’s visits to San Diego on behalf of the conference and worked with him to raise funds for Dr. King’s campaigns of nonviolence to protest racial segregation.
STATEMENT RECALLED
The San Diego minister said Dr. King’s work is exemplified in the following statement by Dr. King:
“He who openly disobeys a law, a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and then willingly accepts the penalty, gives evidence thereby that he so respects the law that he belongs in jail until it is changed.”
Today is officially Dr. Martin Luther King Day in San Diego by proclamation of Mayor Curran.
He said that although Congress is considering designation of Jan. 15 as a holiday, “it is not necessary to wait for enactment of this legislation in order to properly honor the memory of Dr. King.”
San Diego public school students will honor the memory of Dr. King today in a variety of observances.
The San Diego Teachers Association printed 140,000 copies of brochure containing quotations of Dr. King and they are being distributed to students today.
The cover of the brochure is illustrated with a portrait of Dr. King, painted by Eddie L. Edwards of 2589 Imperial Ave.
PLANS OBSERVANCE
Madison High School, with 18 Negro students in enrollment of 3,198, plans a daylong observance today. Among the activities will be assembly programs conducted by the Negro students.
During the assembly periods, portions of Dr. King’s speech during the 1963 Freedom March on Washington will be read.
The San Diego Regional Youth Choir will sing at a community service honoring Dr. King at 7:30 tonight in St. Stephen’s Church of God in Christ, 5825 Imperial Ave.
Donations will be received to provide scholarships for needy preschool children at St. Stephen’s Child Care Center.