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S39E8: Starring Dick Van Dyke | Clip

Dick Van Dyke was an early advocate for civil rights

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On May 31st, 1964, Dick Van Dyke delivered a speech on race relations before Dr. Martin Luther King’s address at the Religious Witness for Human Dignity event in Los Angeles.

TRANSCRIPT

(attendees applauding) - [Narrator] On May 31st, 1964, the Los Angeles Coliseum hosts the Religious Witness for Human Dignity event with a keynote address by Dr.

Martin Luther King.

- [Dr.

Martin Luther King] In reality, segregation is nothing but a new form of slavery covered up with certain niceties of complexity.

(attendees applauding) - [Narrator] Prior to Dr.

King's address, Dick, an early advocate for civil rights, delivers an impassioned speech on race relations in America, written especially for him by celebrated writer and creator of "The Twilight Zone," Rod Serling.

(attendees applauding) "The dignity of human beings is not negotiable, and the desperate need for an understanding and a respect between all men is as fundamental as the process of breathing in and breathing out."

(gentle music) (upbeat music)