The San Diego Community College District Friday announced its board of trustees has adopted a resolution to request a district building be designated as a civil rights landmark.
The Educational Cultural Complex in Mountain View, part of San Diego Continuing Education, has been a symbol of African-American activism since its beginning in 1972, the district said in a press release.
The resolution was passed Thursday night during the board’s monthly meeting.
Several significant events have ties to the complex, the district said, including the California commission to establish Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a federal holiday in 1983, a speech by Coretta Scott King in 1985, a concert by Stevie Wonder in 1986 and a speaking and performance event by Maya Angelou in 1987.
Carlos Cortez, president of San Diego Continuing Education, proposed the resolution to the board of trustees.
“The inclusion of ECC as a national landmark is important because out of the thousands of landmarks in San Diego not too often are ethnic and minority groups truly represented,” Cortez said. “Too often American history is shared without regard to racial groups. As a higher education institution we must continue to celebrate social justice and cultural diversity because black history is American history. The public recognition will remind our students about their rich heritage and ancestors who continued to excel at all areas in life despite hardships and obstacles.”
Cortez will work with the city and state governments to get the complex official designation as a civil rights landmark.
–City News Service
