What is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day honours the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. Born on 15 January 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. King led the movement that dismantled the legal architecture of racial segregation in the United States through nonviolent protest, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and the Selma to Montgomery marches.

Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at the age of 35 — the youngest recipient at the time. His "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered on 28 August 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, is one of the most celebrated speeches in American history. He was assassinated on 4 April 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 39.

Calls for a federal holiday in Dr. King's honour began shortly after his death. After years of congressional opposition, President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday bill into law on 2 November 1983, and it was first observed as a federal holiday in 1986. Since 1994, the day has also been designated as a national day of service, encouraging Americans to volunteer in their communities. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year.