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Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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When did MLK Jr. DAY become a National Holiday?Legislation to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day was initially introduced a mere four days after his April 4, 1968 assassination, according to the Smithsonian Institute. But it wasn’t until Nov. 2, 1983 — after 15 years of activists campaigning for a holiday recognizing King and increasing public support with help from musician Stevie Wonder — that President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law. Since then, the third Monday in January has been a federal holiday to commemorate the civil rights leader. The holiday has been recognized in all 50 states since early 2000.
This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be observed on Monday, January 20. This is a day to honor King’s leadership in the struggle to dismantle racism and to promote God’s vision of justice, peace, and integrity of creation. MLK Jr Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. During the last quarter-century, the MLK Day of Service has grown, and its impact increased as more Americans embraced the idea that citizenship involves taking an active role in improving communities. The King Center wants to make this a “day on, not a day off.” January 20th is also the day on which Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States.
The King Center – Atlanta, GeorgiaThe King Center was established by Coretta Scott King in 1968. Its full title is, “The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Change”. Nearly a million people each year make pilgrimage to the National Historic Site to learn, be inspired and pay their respects to Dr. King’s legacy. While it may not be possible to travel to Atlanta, the King Center offers virtual exhibitions. Click on this link to view the offerings.
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