Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Each year on the third Monday of
January we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day and reflect on the work that
still needs to be done for racial equality. This January 16, make the holiday
more than just a day off and take time to reflect and take action on civil
rights issues across the globe.
WHEN IS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
DAY 2023? Martin Luther King Day is observed every year on the third Monday
of January — on January 16 this year. King was an influential civil rights
leader — best known for his work on racial equality and ending racial
segregation in the United States. His life and achievements are remembered and
celebrated on this day.
HISTORY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING
JR. DAY The concept of Martin Luther King Jr. 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. The bill first came to a vote in the U.S. House of
Representatives in 1979; however, it fell five votes short of the number needed
for passage. Two of the main arguments mentioned by opponents were that a paid
holiday for federal employees would be too expensive and that a holiday to
honor a private citizen would be contrary to longstanding tradition, as King
never held public office. At the time, only two other figures had national
holidays honoring them: George Washington and Christopher Columbus. Soon
after, the King Center looked for support from the corporate community and the
general public. The success of this strategy was cemented when musician Stevie
Wonder released the single ‘Happy Birthday’ to popularize the campaign in 1980
and hosted the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981. Six million signatures
were collected for a petition for Congress to pass the law and is considered
the largest petition in favor of an issue in U.S. history. President
Reagan originally opposed the holiday, citing cost concerns. But on November 2,
1983, Reagan signed a bill, proposed by Representative Katie Hall, to create a
federal holiday honoring King. The bill had passed the Senate by a count of 78
to 22, and the House of Representatives by 338 to 90. The holiday was observed
for the first time on January 20, 1986. It’s observed on the third Monday of
January rather than directly on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday because it
follows the guidelines of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
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