01/17/2022
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is praised around the world for his work fighting for in*******al harmony, civil and voting rights, and an end to racial segregation. As an advocate of non-violence, Dr. King was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize just four years before his life was cut short by an assassin's bullet on April 4, 1968.
Dr. King spoke throughout the country, and many Scarsdale residents may be unaware that he visited Westchester County several times between 1956 and 1967. Although Dr. King is widely celebrated today, he was very unpopular in many regions of the country, including Westchester, during the heyday of The Civil Rights Movement. He was denounced as a socialist for his anti-poverty campaign and opposition to the Vietnam War. However, some forward thinking people from Scarsdale realized that the struggle for justice was not limited to the Southern United States and were eager to support and spread Dr. King’s message. Two of Dr. King’s visits were arranged by Scarsdale residents active in the fight for civil rights.
On March 31, 1960, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a version of his famous and controversial sermon, Love Your Enemies, to an overflow crowd at the Scarsdale Community Baptist Church at 51 Popham Road in Scarsdale.
