TEMPE, Ariz. — It's a historic day in Arizona but it's not well known to those living here.
60 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made his first and only visit to the Valley. He spoke to a crowd of about 8,000 people at Arizona State University's Tempe campus.
The visit created major backlash from many in the community. It came at a time when Arizona, and the country, was embroiled in the Civil Rights conflict. Still, ASU leadership wanted to provide an arena to allow Dr. King to talk about race and civil rights. Inviting him to speak out on the topic on June 3, 1964. Just a few weeks before the historic 1964 Civil Right Act was passed into law.
Three decades later, Dr. King's impact on Arizona was honored at ASU with a new memorial that will be displayed on campus.
"He made an impact here in Arizona," said Mark Brantley, assistant director of operations at ASU's School of international Letters and Cultures on Monday.
A large group gathered on campus to see the display. Then they all moved to the Student pavilion to hear from an NBA legend.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson was welcomed with a roaring applause from the audience. The five time NBA champion spoke about his life experience growing up during the historic Civil Rights movement.
"Dr. King means so much in so many different ways," Johnson said.
Johnson thanked Dr. King for helping pave the way for him and countless others.
“When I think about Dr. King and really I’m one of the young Black men that benefited from everything that he was teaching,” he said.
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