Martin Luther King, Jr., Day: How was it established and everything else you need to know about the holiday

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is a United States holiday in which Americans honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., who advocated the use of nonviolent resistance to end racial segregation. As a young Baptist minister, he became a public figure as a leader during the Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama, which started after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in a segregated bus and later became the most influential African American civil rights leader, which led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination and segregation, as well as the Voting Rights Act, which ensured every African American right to vote. Because of his activism, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964.

Dr. King died after he was shot on April 4, 1968 while he was leading efforts against poverty, capitalism and the Vietnam War. His assassination triggered a wave of grief and shock, served as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced in the pursuit of social justice and equality, and galvanized continued efforts to carry Dr. King’s legacy forward in the ongoing struggle for civil rights and human dignity.

How did Martin Luther King, Jr, Day was established?

Ever since his assassination, there were proposals to create a national holiday in his honor, mainly from labor unions. African American Representative John Conyers and Senator Edward Brooke (Democrat and Republican respectively), introduced a bill in Congress to make January 15 -King’s birthday- a national holiday, however there was wide opposition on racial and political grounds to lock its passage.

Although originally opposed to creating the holiday, Republican President Ronald Reagan signed a bill proposed by Black Representative Katie Hall of Indiana into law, to create a federal holiday honoring Dr. King. The final vote in the Senate took place on October 19, 1983 establishing the holiday, which was to be observed on the third Monday of January. The first celebration was on January 20, 1986. The bill also established the “Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday Commission”, which takes care of overseeing the holiday. Typically, the occasion is marked by processions, parades, and addresses delivered by leaders in civil rights and politics.

National Day of Service

Martin Luther King Day has been an official National Day of Service since 1994, which means it encourages all Americans to come together to engage in volunteer and service activities to address several social issues. During MLK Day, most activities are focused to unite black communities and vulnerable groups. AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, offers volunteers several options to serve and help their communities.

What businesses are closed on MLK Day?

The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ close for trading during Martin Luther King, Jr, Day, and banks are generally closed. However, according to Bloomberg, less than half of employers give employees the day off.

Several schools and educational centers are closed for classes, although some remain open to hold seminars or celebrations of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, legacy.

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