Martin Luther King Day

The 3rd Monday in January

Martin Luther King Jr., an American priest of African descent, is considered one of the great Americans because he tirelessly fought for civil rights for all people using non-violent ways. Since 1968, when he was killed on his birthday, the 15th of January has become the annual day for a memorial prayer. In 1986 the holiday was moved to the third Monday in January and was declared a national holiday.

Martin Luther King Jr. headed the civil rights movement and championed the cause of nonviolent activism. He fought against the racial discrimination. After his assassination, the bill was introduced to declare his birthday as a holiday in 1979 but it was not passed by the house. Later on, there was much public support for it. Even the business community supported it. In the early eighties, six million citizens across the country sent a signed petition to the Congress to enact the resolution. This is supposed to be the largest petition in support of cause in the history of America. Ultimately, it was in 1983 that the President of United States of America signed the bill promulgating the day as a federal holiday across the country, as a mark of reverence to the great leader. The observance first started in the year 1986. But the passage of the bill had its own stumbling block. Many argued that a federal holiday would mean a substantial economic loss for the society and the country as a whole. But an over-whelming majority in its favor saw it through.

The day is observed as a day to bridge the social barriers, improve communal ties, shed social discrimination as visualized by the Dr. Martin Luther King. Volunteers and social groups propagate the ideals of non-violence and social security issues like poverty, job, education, home etc. The Martin Luther Day of Service has proposed to commemorate the days of citizen of action volunteer service as a mark of respect for the leader's ideal. In Philadelphia, the King Day of Service is held to honor him. The day is also referred to ‘Dream Day’ in reference to his famous speech on 1964 ‘I have a dream.  

Although the Martin Luther King Day was originated and is being observed in the United State of America, special function is also held in the Hiroshima, Japan to commemorate and pay reverence to great leader for his service on human rights.