Martin Luther King Jr. Marches in Fresno in Support of Fair Housing for All

On a warm, windy day in June 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Fresno and spoke to a crowd of thousands. His visit was part of a statewide effort to stop legislation that would legalize racial discrimination in housing. 

King, along with Fresno Mayor Wallace D. Henderson and approximately 1,000 people, marched from Fresno High School to Ratcliffe Stadium. At the venue, King addressed nearly 3,000 people about desegregation, fair housing, the Rumford Housing Act, and California Proposition 14. 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leads clergymen for Fair Housing march to Ratcliffe Stadium, June 1, 1964. Newspaper caption from The Fresno Bee, June 2, 1964. Used with permission from the Fresno City & County Historical Society. All rights reserved.  

The Rumford Act, also known as the California Fair Housing Act of 1963, was a landmark law that prohibited racial discrimination in both public and private housing in California. One year later, it was countered with California Proposition 14, which was set forth to repeal the legislation. 

Unfortunately, despite Dr. King’s historic rallies throughout the state, Californians voted to eliminate the Rumford Act protections, paving the way for continued discrimination based on color. The consequences of these discriminatory acts continue to this day in Fresno and other communities throughout the Central Valley. Hundreds of community-led efforts are active throughout the region, addressing housing challenges. 

Today, promoting equity for all is an integral part of the Foundation’s mission, and it is woven into our vision: to make the Central Valley a place with no barriers, just opportunity, for all people. Learn more about local efforts to address quality affordable housing and get involved by visiting the Fresno DRIVE website. 

This story is part of the Central Valley Community Foundation’s initiative, “Sixty Stories of Impact,” to mark 60 years since our inception. We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone throughout the year. To learn more, visit us at centralvalleycf.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @centralvalleycf.

Photos have been provided courtesy of the Fresno City & County Historical Society and the Pop Laval Foundation. All rights reserved.

Newspaper clipping from The Fresno Bee, June 2, 1964. Used with permission from the Fresno City & County Historical Society. All rights reserved.