Breaking of the Chains, Steel sculpture at Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade in San Diego, United States
Breaking of the Chains is a tall metal sculpture by Melvin Edwards, installed in 1995 along the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade in San Diego. It consists of large, dark chain links that appear broken apart, rising vertically from the walkway. A plaque at its base carries a quotation from Martin Luther King Jr. about cutting off the chain of hate.
The artwork was created in 1995 by artist Mel Edwards and marked a turning point in the recognition of public artworks addressing civil rights themes. It emerged during a period when public installations increasingly engaged with social justice issues.
The sculpture bears an inscription with Martin Luther King Jr.'s words about overcoming hate through love. Visitors can read a clear message about human dignity and reconciliation at this site.
The sculpture sits along Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade, a public pedestrian walkway in San Diego that is easy to explore on foot. The site is freely accessible and visiting early in the day offers a more relaxed experience with fewer crowds.
The plaque at the sculpture's base carries Martin Luther King Jr.'s line that someone must have "the sense enough, and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate" by projecting the ethic of love to the center of our lives. The chains above it enact that sentence in metal.
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