MLK in Sioux Falls: A Little-Known Chapter of Civil Rights History
About six years after the Montgomery bus boycott began, and two years before his legendary "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington DC, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
1961: Martin Luther King Brings the Civil Rights Message to Sioux Falls
Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns
How Sioux Falls Honors MLK Today
In January 2020, Sioux Falls honored Dr. King's work and legacy with a life-sized bronze statue in Van Eps Park. The statue was made possible by the work of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, the City of Sioux Falls, and the Sioux Falls Arts Council.
"Black history is American history, so it's extremely important for people in Sioux Falls, in particular, to know our history, to know our place in history,” Julian Beaudion, Assistant Director of the South Dakota African-American Museum, told Dakota News Now in 2020.
Read More: New Statue Celebrates MLK's Legacy and His Trip to Sioux Falls
“On behalf of the people of Sioux Falls, I want to dedicate this statue to the legacy of Martin Luther King, as well as those who have fought and continue to fight for justice, unity, and equality throughout the world, but especially in our own city,��� Mayor Paul TenHaken said in 2020.
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Gallery Credit: Karen Johanson