Martin Luther King Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent leader in the American civil rights movement, advocating for nonviolent resistance to racial segregation and injustice. His efforts were instrumental in the advancement of civil rights for African Americans and he is best known for his role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

Following Dr. King's assassination on April 4, 1968, there were immediate calls for a national holiday in his honor. In 1970, a campaign was launched by labor unions and civil rights organizations to establish a holiday celebrating King's contributions to civil rights.

In 1983, after years of advocacy and public support, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday. The holiday was officially observed for the first time on January 20, 1986, although some states continued to resist its observance.