Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. (Jan. 15, 1929 – Apr. 4, 1968). Led a national movement for civil rights. King preached of a “beloved community” where justice and quality are epitomized. Danville’s restraint of local demonstrations compelled King to focus the movement on the city. He publicly visited Danville at least three times in 1963 (March 26th, Danville City Auditorium, July 11th and November 15th, High Street Baptist Church), encouraged local nonviolent protests, and later proposed a global boycott of Dan River Mills. Preparation for the March on Washington, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and willingness of Danville authorities to grant modest concessions eventually diverted attention from the city. King’s national work led to dismantlement of the Southern “Jim Crow” system of racial segregation and passage of legislation for the advancement of civil rights for all., “Wherever injustice is alive, it is a responsibility for people of good will to take a stand against it, for injustice anywhere is a treat to justice everywhere.” (MLK, 11 July 1963, Danville), Plaque given by Torrey Donell Dixon, Danville Historical Society, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, NAACP, Rainbow Push Coalition, Abe Koplen Clothing, Kristopher Jason Gill, Tommy Reginald Bennett.