Martin Luther King Day

Martin Luther King Day

Martin Luther King Day, or Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is observed on the third Monday of January. It is also known as Martin Luther King’s Birthday. It is a federal holiday and a day off – most schools and businesses are closed. Martin Luther King Day is held in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., the famous civil rights leader.

In other states, such as Arizona, it is combined with Civil Rights Day. In Idaho, it is also Human Rights Day. In some states, Robert E Lee’s birthday is observed instead. In Wyoming, it is known as Wyoming Equality Day.

Martin Luther King’s birthday is January 15. However, under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, certain holidays, such as this one, are celebrated on a Monday to enable more families to spend time together.

What Did He Do?

Born in 1929, and gaining a doctorate in theology in 1955, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and an important social activist in the American civil rights movement.

His notable and memorable acts include heading the 381-day protest against segregation on public transportation, initiated by Rosa Parks on December 1, 1955. This resulted in the Supreme Court’s declaration of such segregation as unconstitutional in November 1956.

In 1957, he founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) which fought to gain full rights for African Americans in the United States, through non-violent protest.

In 1963, supported by various civil rights and religious groups, King organized his famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom to highlight the daily struggles that African Americans faced. Around 250,000 people participated. The march ended at the Lincoln Memorial, where the crowds gathered to hear King’s renowned “I Have a Dream” speech, calling for peace and equality. It contributed to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, outlawing discrimination based on color, religion, sex, or national origin.