On June 3, 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stirred an audience of 8,000 in Tempe, Arizona, encouraging people to embrace the hard work of universal kinship and empathy. Prominent local leaders, including ASU Alumni Lincoln Ragsdale, Sr. and George Brooks, Sr., had invited him to deliver his message of hope. ASU President Homer Durham welcomed the opportunity to provide a venue large enough to hold the eager crowd, despite pressure to deny the request. On that day, King urged Congress to pass a far-reaching bill, the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 which cleared a path for the vibrant, diverse communities we enjoy today. Sixty years later, we continue to build on that legacy.

We are excited to celebrate this anniversary date through a series of special events.