Even 40 years later, Martin Luther King Jr. can’t avoid a protest.

Four Campus Police officers watched from a distance today as a group of students gathered around to discuss and debate protester Dick Otterstad.

Otterstad, 60, came to Sacramento State around 10:30 a.m., holding a sign that read, “Keep the dream alive; Fight racism & sodomy!” on one side. The reverse side had a picture of King.

Students like Alexa Harris, coordinator at the school Pride Center, and junior English major Chelsea Short, argued with Otterstad and counter-protested. Short held a sign that read: “Fight bigotry in all forms.”

“I’m here because I believe what he’s saying is wrong,” Short said. “Homophobia is wrong.”

Louis Camera, director of Student Activities, got into an argument with Otterstad.

“He is sullying the name of King,” Camera said.

Camera explained that he fights for Otterstad’s right to speak, but is insulted by what Otterstad said.

When asked about the arguments, Otterstad said, “We’re just having a discussion.”

Mikhail Chernyavsky and Andres Perez can be reached at [email protected].

Click here to read about a panel discussion happening during this demonstration.