Written by Payton Burdette
Martin Luther King Day was celebrated this year on January 18th. The holiday always occurs on the 3rd Monday of January and is centered around King’s birthday which is the 15th.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15th, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. King attended 3 different colleges: Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University. He married Coretta Scott King in 1953, and they had 4 kids together. He worked as an American Baptist minister for a little while but is best known for being a leader during civil rights movement. His I have a Dream speech is by far his most famous. Martin Luther King Jr. was eventually assassinated in 1968.
MLK day became an official U.S. federal holiday in 1983, 15 years after his death. King’s wife, Coretta Scott King, along with members of Congress and other activists pushed for his birthday to become a federal holiday. President Ronald Reagon signed a bill in 1983 making MLK day an official federal holiday, however the day wasn’t officially observed until 1986.
Many political leaders paid their respects to the late Martin Luther King Jr. President Joe Biden said, “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words remind us that darkness cannot drive out hate – only light and love can…”
Texas Senator Ted Cruz stated, “Now more than ever, we are reminded of the power of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, calling on all of us to have ‘the courage to face the uncertainties of the future,’ ‘as we continue our forward stride toward the city of freedom.”
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