Why is the Third Monday of Every January Celebrated as Martin Luther King Day in the USA?

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31 Jan 2024
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Why does Martin Luther King Day (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) exist? Let's explain.



Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is celebrated every year on the third Monday of January in the United States. This day commemorates the life and works of Dr. King, a Baptist minister and a leading figure in the American civil rights movement. People are encouraged to reflect on the principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change that Dr. King advocated. The holiday is typically marked by events such as marches and rallies, as well as speeches by politicians and civil rights leaders.

Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929. He rose to prominence in the civil rights movement in 1955, following the arrest of African American woman Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus, violating the city's racial segregation laws. A proponent of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of achieving social change through nonviolent resistance, King advocated the use of nonviolent methods to end racial discrimination in the United States. His efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He was assassinated in 1968.

    Efforts to create a national holiday in honor of King began shortly after his assassination, but it was not until 1983 that legislation for a federal holiday was passed. The first nationwide celebration took place in 1986.






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