Chicago Lawn in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The MLK Living Memorial

Chicago's First Permanent Memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Chicago Freedom Movement

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 1, 2025

1. The MLK Living Memorial Marker

Inscription. Marquette Park is of great significance to America's Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) came to Chicago in 1965 at the invitation of the Chicago Freedom Movement, a coalition of 44 organizations devoted to reforming unfair housing practices that forced many African-Americans to live in overcrowded slums. Dr. King and the Freedom Movement wanted to transform Chicago into a more racially equitable city.

In the summer of 1966, Dr. King led protestors on a march into the largely white residential area near Marquette Park. Soon after the marchers entered the park, they were met by an angry mob. Dr. King was struck by a rock during the march, which took him to the ground. As a result of this march, the City of Chicago adopted the "Summit Agreement" which Dr. King considered "the most significant program ever conceived to make open housing a reality in a metropolitan area.”

This Living Memorial commemorates the events of August 5, 1966, and the communities like this one and countless others across the country that have fought for justice and equity for decades. It represents the courage and resilience of those who have sacrificed much to bring us a little closer to the world as it could be.

May the courage of Dr. King and those who marched alongside him continue to inspire us all.

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Erected 2016.

Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Martin Luther King, Jr. series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 5, 1966.

Location. 41° 46.278′ N, 87° 42.207′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Chicago Lawn. It is on Mann Drive west of South Kedzie Avenue, on the right when traveling west. The marker is in the northern end of Marquette Park, affixed to a fence that is just south of the Martin Luther King Jr. Living Memorial itself. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60629, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and memorial is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Martin Luther King, Jr. Living Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Marquette Park World War I Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Darius and Girenas Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Our Lady of Fatima (approx. ¾ mile away); St. Bakhita (approx. ¾ mile away); (Former) Marquette Park State Bank (approx. 1.1 miles away); Thomas J. Stack (approx. 1½ miles away); 9/11 Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Regarding The MLK Living Memorial. The living memorial was dedicated in honor

The MLK Living Memorial plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 1, 2025

2. The MLK Living Memorial plaque

of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's attempted march through this neighborhood on August 5, 1966. Dr. King had come to this neighborhood with roughly 700 protestors, intending to march to a real estate office on 63rd Street (four blocks north of the park) in protest of segregated housing practices in Chicago. However, Dr. King’s group was almost immediately greeted by white counter-protestors who shouted racial slurs and threw debris at them; Dr. King himself was hit on the head by a rock.

Also see . . . Chicago magazine: Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1966 Chicago Campaign.

Excerpt: "Two days later, Young, Raby, and other top lieutenants led roughly 450 marchers from New Friendship to H.F. Halverson Realty, at 63rd Street and Kedzie Avenue, in the heart of Gage Park. (King had a speaking engagement and was not present.) They were met by a heckling white crowd, and they left, under police protection, in paddy wagons.

"Sensing they had erred and should’ve stood their ground, the protesters, who now numbered 500, marched again the next day, this time into Marquette Park. Hundreds of whites were waiting and hurled rocks and bottles at them, set fire to the cars that had brought them to the park, or pushed them into the lagoon. Police officers did little to stop the melee. The marchers retreated to New Friendship—where, Tillman remembers, the campaign had stationed medical staff. They quickly began tending to the
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 1, 2025

3. Martin Luther King Jr. Living Memorial
injured, some 50 in all."

(Submitted on March 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Martin Luther King, Jr. at Soldier Field (1966) image. Click for full size.

Chicago Urban League Records, courtesy of University of Illinois at Chicago, Special Collections, July 10, 1966

4. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Soldier Field (1966)

Martin Luther King Jr., seated in the convertible, waves to a large crowd at the Chicago Freedom Movement Rally at Soldier Field. About 4 weeks later he made his ill-fated visit to the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, where the living memorial now sits.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 71 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 1, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on March 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.