Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday

We all know that the University is closed every year on Martin Luther King, Jr Day, but do you know the history behind this federal holiday?

The entire nation pauses in remembrance of the civil rights hero, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, on this federal holiday that takes place on the third Monday of each January. This day was enacted in 1983 by President Reagan to honor the activist and minister who was tragically assassinated in 1968. The creation of this holiday is a time for us as a nation to reflect and to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s accomplishments. It took 15 years of advocacy for this day to be declared a national holiday, and even though it is recognized in all 50 states since early 2000, celebration is not uniform. For example, some states like Alabama and Mississippi have combined Martin Luther King, Jr Day with Robert E. Lee Day to honor the birthday of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Every year, you can find on- and off-campus events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, his work, and the work of Civil Rights activists. Although many of these events have already happened this year, you can still honor Dr. King’s legacy by volunteering with a community organization. Volunteering is an important part of this holiday because it is the “only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities.”