Martin Luther King Jr. and Latino Civil Rights

As Martin Luther King Jr. day approaches this Monday, we remember some of the actions this legendary humanitarian and activist took to support the Latino civil rights movement in the US.

In 1963 — the year of his “I have a dream” speech — King attended a Los Angeles rally for Mexican Americans, attracting more than 20,000 residents to hear his message. Along with guest speaker Juan Cornejo (the first Mexican-American elected official), King spoke out about social injustice and criminalization within the Latin community, and how to overcome those burdens.

Then, prior to his death in 1968, King worked to ensure that Mexican Americans were involved in the formation of the Poor People’s Movement, inspiring Latino residents on the importance of equality.