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# Fact brief: Was Martin Luther King Jr. discriminated against in Sioux Falls?
- URL: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/fact-brief-sd-martin-luther-king-jr-sioux-falls-1961/
- Published: 2026-01-20T11:00:37.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-20T11:00:37.000Z
- Description: King arrived in Sioux Falls during the middle of riots at the University of Georgia after two Black students were admitted for the first time.
- Author: Michael Klinski
- Tags: Fact briefs, #feature-1

## Yes.

Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. had to use a back entrance when he gave a speech and wasn’t allowed to stay at the hotel where he spoke during a Jan. 12, 1961, visit to Sioux Falls.

King arrived in the middle of riots at the University of Georgia after two Black students were admitted for the first time. 

"Mobs function when they feel they are being aided and abetted by law enforcement authorities,” King said of the protests.

His visit was covered with a Jan. 12 front-page photo in the Argus Leader, which was an afternoon newspaper at the time. His speech that evening at the Knife & Fork Club at the Cataract Hotel, however, was relegated to page 10 in the Jan. 13 edition. King also gave a 12-minute long interview to KELO-TV.

The City of Sioux Falls erected a statue of King to commemorate the visit in 2020\. 

*This fact brief responds to conversations such as* [*this one.*](https://www.facebook.com/keloland/posts/pfbid0twVuJAVbt86fjGMXtHrguA3yALyvQ9Xmpzg8oSVRomRDPrEAcKeyAuGqjZqoe9b8l)

### **Sources**

Historical Marker Database, [Martin Luther King in Sioux Falls](https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=208208&ref=sdnewswatch.org)

KELO-TV, [Full interview with Martin Luther King Jr.](https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/mlk-jr-in-sioux-falls-interview-from-1961/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

KELO-TV, [Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. felt ‘unwelcome’ during 1961 visit to Sioux Falls](https://www.keloland.com/keloland-com-original/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-felt-unwelcome-during-1961-visit-to-sioux-falls/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Dakota News Now, [Throwback Thursday: The history of MLK in Sioux Falls](https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2025/01/16/throwback-thursday-history-mlk-sioux-falls/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Sioux Falls Argus Leader, [Jan. 12, 1961 front page](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rnjMMItLyrYP1IeOIyVxqmnTl4invwh-/view?usp=drive%5Flink&ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Jan. 13, [1961 edition (Page 10)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H-tSuUWE2lr-a6tjrE3be1MKX9goSw4O/view?usp=drive%5Flink&ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Sioux Falls Argus Leader, [Martin Luther King Jr.'s Sioux Falls visit remembered with statue](https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2020/01/20/martin-luther-king-jr-s-sioux-falls-visit-remembered-statue/4503428002/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Sioux Falls Argus Leader, [Center fought segregation, served Black community for 20 years in Sioux Falls](https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/business-journal/2022/09/12/sioux-falls-center-fought-segregation-served-black-community-20-years/8039428001/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

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