Photographer Documented Chicago Civil Rights Protests of the Mid-60s
WDCB’s Gary Zidek catches up with 84-year-old photographer Bernie Kleina to talk about his experiences documenting civil rights marches and protests of the 1960s. Kleina also talks about his feelings regarding the protests taking place today in response to George Floyd’s murder.
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“There was a lot of violence against Dr. King and the marchers, so I decided to try to document photographically what was going on, and I was able to do that to some extent, and the rest is history.” - Bernie Kleina talking about his decision to start taking photos at civil rights events in the 1960s.
Bernie Kleina in his Wheaton-based office
Photographer Bernie Kleina has spent the majority of his life fighting discrimination. For over 40 years he led the HOPE Fair Housing Center in Wheaton. But before he began working to end housing discrimination in DuPage County, Kleina was on the front lines of the civil rights movement documenting marches, protests and demonstrations with his camera.
Mob attacking a car during a Chicago Freedom Movement march in 1966. Photo credit: Bernie Kleina
Kleina was inspired to get involved in the fight for civil rights after seeing coverage of the protests taking place in Selma Alabama in 1965. After Selma, Kleina began began attending Chicago events featuring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and documenting what he saw.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King at a rally in Grant Park in 1966. Photo credit: Bernie Kleina
“I’ve been in many demonstrations all across the south, but I can say that I have never seen, even in Mississippi and Alabama, mobs as hostile and hate-filled as I’ve seen in Chicago.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s response when asked by Chicago reporters about the reception he’s received during the housing marches in 1966.
Protestors in front of a Chicago real estate office in 1966. Photo credit: Bernie Kleina
