Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebrated

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Category: World News

Published on Sunday, 19 January 2014 17:46

Written by Janet Walker

The nation will pause to remember Martin Luther King, Jr., the Civil Rights leader slain for his outspoken beliefs and commitment to non-violent social change, on Monday, January 20, 2014.

King, a minister, who galvanized the civil rights movement of the 1960’s was propelled into the national spotlight as he, along with thousands of other Negro’s demanded equal treatment beginning with the Bus Strike in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Montgomery Bus Strike began as Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in the Negro section of the bus to a white as all the designated white seats were taken, and a new minister, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., joined forces and rallied thousands of African Americans who were dependent on public transportation to join in and stop riding the public transportation until their demands for equal treatment were met. The bus strike lasted 381 days.

Prior to King’s death, he electrified the nation as millions Marched on Washington in August 28,1963 to hear the activist deliver from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial his now famous “I have a Dream” message which has since become the most quoted speech when King is remembered.

Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated April 4, 1968, outside his hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee.

Celebrated as a Federal Holiday all Federal, state and local government offices are closed. Additional closings may be possible. The King Holiday is celebrated annually on the Civil Rights leader's birthday.