When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day? The federal government shuts down on the third Monday of every January for the day to honor Martin Luther King Jr.. This year, that day is Jan. 20. The holiday The national "Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service" [37] was started by former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, who co-authored the King Holiday and Service Act. This year, the holiday coincides with President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, though the majority of business closures will be for MLK Day. Monday, January 20, commemorates the birthday of In 1983, about 20 years after King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, legislation for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the third Monday of January cleared Congress and President Ronald Reagan signed How the idea for MLK day began . The idea to establish a national holiday for the civil rights icon arose as the nation was plunged into grief. U.S. Democratic Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, one of the longest-serving members of Congress known for his liberal stance on civil rights, proposed legislation to recognize King four days after his assassination outside a motel in Memphis, Tennessee Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is a holiday in the United States honouring the achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who advocated for nonviolent resistance against racial segregation. Despite the national fervor inspired by his death, it took 15 years of persistence by civil rights activists for a holiday created in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to be approved by the federal government and an additional 17 years for it to be recognized in all 50 states. For 15 years after Martin Luther King Jr.'s death activists rallied to make MLK Day a federal holiday. Here's how it happened. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service projects in honor of Dr. King and to visit MLKDay.gov to find Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example — the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his Despite the national fervor inspired by his death, it took 15 years of persistence by civil rights activists for a holiday created in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to be approved by the federal government and an additional 17 years for it to be recognized in all 50 states. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. holiday and national day of service. It took a long time for the country to get there Nation It took 15 years of persistent lobbying for MLK Day to be declared a national holiday. By: Erin Blakemore. Updated: January 12, 2024 | Original: January 10, 2018. copy page link Print Page. How the idea for MLK day began . The idea to establish a national holiday for the civil rights icon arose as the nation was plunged into grief. U.S. Democratic Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, one of the longest-serving members of Congress known for his liberal stance on civil rights, proposed legislation to recognize King four days after his assassination outside a motel in Memphis, Tennessee The establishment of a national holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., marked the culmination of a long campaign that began soon after King’s assassination and ended on 2 November 1983, with the signing of legislation by President Ronald Reagan. Public Law 98–144 designated the third Monday in January as an annual federal holiday in King History of Martin Luther King Day. The concept of Martin Luther King Day as a holiday was promoted by labor unions. After King’s death, U.S. Representative John Conyers and U.S. Senator Edward Brooke introduced a bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday. In 1999, New Hampshire became the last state to adopt a holiday honoring King.Here's what's open and closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2025.Retail and groceryMajor US retailers and grocers January 20 marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the federal holiday that honors the life and legacy of the American civil rights icon who was assassinated in 1968. The holiday didn’t come together When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Martin Luther King Jr. Day occurs on Monday, Jan. 20. 2025 holiday schedule: See full list of dates for Easter, Memorial Day, federal holidays, more. Are MLK Day and Inauguration Day on the same day? Yes. Inauguration Day and MLK Day, which falls on the third Monday of January, will happen on the same day
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