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Americans honor the
Reverend Martin Luther
King Jr. with a national
holiday celebrated on
the third Monday of each
January.
The holiday was
established to serve as
a time for Americans to
reflect on the
principles of racial
equality and nonviolent
social change advocated
by Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.
As a political
organizer and advocate
of nonviolent protest,
King was pivotal in
persuading his fellow
Americans to end the
legal segregation that
prevailed throughout the
South, and in gaining
support for the civil
rights legislation that
established the legal
framework for racial
equality in the United
States. Dr. King created
a powerful and enduring
legacy for all Americans
by calling upon our
Nation to ensure equal
justice under law and
uphold our founding
ideals of life, liberty,
and the pursuit of
happiness for all
people.
Since his
assassination in 1968,
memorial services have
marked his birthday on
January 15. On November
2, 1983, President
Ronald Reagan signed
legislation establishing
January 15 as a legal
holiday honoring the
civil rights leader. The
ceremony was attended by
Mrs. Coretta Scott King
and family, members of
Congress, and business
and religious leaders.
During the signing
President Reagan said:
"All
right-thinking
people, all
right-thinking
Americans are joined
in spirit with us
this day as the
highest recognition
which this nation
gives is bestowed
upon Martin Luther
King Jr., one who
also was the
recipient of the
highest recognition
which the world
bestows, the Nobel
Peace Prize.
"America is a
more democratic
nation, a more just
nation, a more
peaceful nation
because Martin
Luther King, Jr.
became her
preeminent
nonviolent commander."
In 1986, January 15
was replaced by the
third Monday of January,
which was declared a
national holiday. It was
observed for the first
time on January 20,
1986. Many states were
reluctant to observe the
holiday but on January
17, 2000, for the first
time, all 50 states
officially observed the
holiday.
Americans are
encouraged to observe
this day with
appropriate civic,
community, and service
programs and activities
in honor of the memory
and legacy of Dr. King.
The only other
American to be honored
with an individual
federal holiday is
George Washington.
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"I am convinced that
love is the most durable power in the world. It
is not an expression of impractical idealism, but of
practical realism. Far from being the pious
injunction of a Utopian dreamer, love is an absolute
necessity for the survival of our civilization.
To return hate for hate does nothing but intensify the
existence of evil in the universe. Someone must
have sense enough and religion enough to cut off the
chain of hate and evil, and this can only be done
through love."
~ Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. 1957 |
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