Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Portland on November 8th, 1961. This photograph was taken at a meeting with local faith leaders in the Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church parsonage at 3132 N. Vancouver (adjacent to the main building). Pictured standing from left to right are Reverend O.B. Williams, Reverend Tecumseh X. Graham, Dr. Martin Luther King, Reverend Harley Akers, Reverend Othal H. Lakey, Reverend Leon T. Garcia, & Reverend Dennis D. Banks; seated on the left is Reverend Eugene Boyd Jr. Reverend Boyd would later recount that the two hour meeting focused on discussing strategies in the campaign for racial justice and civil rights for African Americans, he remarked that quote meeting him was like we were united for the first time as pastors fighting the situation. We wanted to show him our support, to help him keep going. Dr. King also spoke at a Civil War centennial event at Portland State College that morning, gave an afternoon speech at Lewis and Clark College titled The Future of Integration, and met with community members at the home of Urban League President E. Shelly Hill. During the most publicized engagement of his trip a crowd of 3,500 heard Dr. King deliver a speech titled Facing the Challenge of a New Age at the Public Auditorium (now known as the Keller Auditorium) during the Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Day. Mayor Terry Schrunk and Governor Mark Hatfield opened the ceremony.