“In 1970, I became active in trying to stop the busing of elementary school children in San Francisco,” Quentin Kopp said about what led him to run for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
In 1971, the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) implemented a busing program to racially balance its schools and overcome neighborhood segregation. However, the program disrupted many families who preferred their kids to stay where they were, especially for the Chinese community in San Francisco.
“And people would say, ‘What’s that got to do with the Board of Supervisors?’ And I just say, ‘Because it involves the rights of citizens of the city and county of San Francisco,’” Kopp said.
After being elected and serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Kopp held a seat in the California state Senate for 12 years before being appointed a Superior Court judge by Gov. Pete Wilson.
Days before his 96th birthday, he continues to practice law and remains an active, influential voice in San Francisco and beyond.
Here’s part 1 of Judge Quentin Kopp’s legendary story.
