Photo: Jeff Kamen/Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
This Monday, January 16, commemorates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., an important and influential civil rights leader.
This federal holiday is to honor the life of Martin Luther King Jr. who dedicated his life to fighting for equality regardless of the color of his skin.
His campaigns are known worldwide, since they were a strong message to eradicate racial segregation with a message of peace and justice.
This federal legislation also motivates volunteers in citizen action groups during this Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Beginnings of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Democratic congressman from Michigan, john conyerwas in charge of introducing the bill to the US Congress to commemorate a day in honor of Martin Luther King Jr, just four days after his assassination.
But this proposal did not have enough impact in Congress at that time.
Conyer and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm continued to submit the proposal at the beginning of each session for the next several years.
Following a series of civil rights marches on Washington in 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law.
“It may well be that we have to repent in this generation. Not only because of the vitriolic words of bad people and the violent actions of bad people, but because of the terrible silence and indifference of good people who sit and say: “Wait for time” “, is one of the many affirmations of Martin Luther King Jr. that have been used during all the protests for equal rights, including to date.
King and civil rights
Martin Luther King Jr. is known for being a strong promoter of civil rights through nonviolent protest and civil disobedience, influenced by his Christian beliefs.
Led and participated in marches for African American voting rights, desegregation, labor rights, and other basic human civil rights.
His most famous speech is “I have a dream” and he gave it to more than 250,000 people on the National Mall in Washington DC
In October 1964, he became the youngest man to win the Nobel Peace Prize at just 35 years old.
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