↠ Legislation for the holiday was introduced just four days after his 1968 assassination but faced intense opposition, taking 15 years to pass.
↠ While signed in 1983, it was not officially observed in all 50 states until 1999, with New Hampshire being the last to adopt it.
↠ Congress designated the holiday as a day for community volunteerism in 1994, encouraging citizens to improve their communities.
↠ Dr. King is one of only two Americans to have a federal holiday honoring their birthday, the other being George Washington.
↠ Senator Jesse Helms led a filibuster against the bill, submitting a 400-page file accusing King of being a communist.
↠ The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Center in Atlanta sponsored and observed the first annual celebration of King’s birthday.
↠ Illinois is the first state to adopt Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a state holiday.
↠ January 16, 1989 - The King holiday is legal in 44 states.
↠ New Hampshire becomes the last state to adopt a holiday honoring King in 1999.
↠ He’s one of two Americans to have his birthday celebrated as a national holiday.
↠ The National Park Service preserves the stories of Dr. King's life and its profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
↠ Many American presidents have come to commemorate this day at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where King served as assistant pastor for eight years.
↠ The only other official national day of service in the U.S., as designated by the government, is September 11 National Day of Service (9/11 Day).
↠ The day is not a holiday in Canada. It is commemorated annually by the City of Toronto and City of Ottawa governments in Ontario and Montreal in Quebec.
↠ Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed in the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
↠ Every year since 1987, the Dr. Martin Luther King Tribute and Dinner has been held in Wassenaar, The Netherlands.
↠ While signed in 1983, it was not officially observed in all 50 states until 1999, with New Hampshire being the last to adopt it.
↠ Congress designated the holiday as a day for community volunteerism in 1994, encouraging citizens to improve their communities.
↠ Dr. King is one of only two Americans to have a federal holiday honoring their birthday, the other being George Washington.
↠ Senator Jesse Helms led a filibuster against the bill, submitting a 400-page file accusing King of being a communist.
↠ The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Center in Atlanta sponsored and observed the first annual celebration of King’s birthday.
↠ Illinois is the first state to adopt Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a state holiday.
↠ January 16, 1989 - The King holiday is legal in 44 states.
↠ New Hampshire becomes the last state to adopt a holiday honoring King in 1999.
↠ He’s one of two Americans to have his birthday celebrated as a national holiday.
↠ The National Park Service preserves the stories of Dr. King's life and its profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
↠ Many American presidents have come to commemorate this day at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where King served as assistant pastor for eight years.
↠ The only other official national day of service in the U.S., as designated by the government, is September 11 National Day of Service (9/11 Day).
↠ The day is not a holiday in Canada. It is commemorated annually by the City of Toronto and City of Ottawa governments in Ontario and Montreal in Quebec.
↠ Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed in the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
↠ Every year since 1987, the Dr. Martin Luther King Tribute and Dinner has been held in Wassenaar, The Netherlands.
