On April 8, 1968, Michigan Congressman John Conyers first introduced legislation for a commemorative MLK holiday four days after King was assassinated in 1968. After the bill became stalled, petitions endorsing the holiday containing six million names were submitted to Congress. Conyers and Rep.Shirley Chisholm of New York, resubmitted King holiday legislation each subsequent legislative session. Public pressure for the holiday mounted during the 1982 and 1983 civil rights marches in Washington.
On November 3, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill toestablish the third Monday in January as Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, and it was set to begin in 1986.
On August 27, 1984, President Reagan signed legislation providing the MLK Federal Holiday Commission to establish the holiday for a term of 5 years with an option to renew.
MLK Day was first celebrated on January 20, 1986, which makes this the 23rd year of celebration!
On August 23, 1994, President Bill Clinton signed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act. He expanded the mission of the holiday to include a focus on community service, interracial reconciliation and youth anti-violence initiatives.
In cooperation with the spirit of the MLK Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act, all celebration activities include festivities that harmonize with the purposes of the holiday.
Plato said, “Whatever a culture honors, it cultivates.” We havelabored to honor the legacy of unity, peace, and equality topreserves its fruits in future generations.
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