Martin Luther King became the 1st modern individual to have a national holiday honor him, the struggle to bring it to fruition matched the movement he led.
Is Martin Luther King Day a national holiday in the U.S.?
Just four days after his assassination in 1968, John Conyers, then a Democratic Representative from Michigan, took to the floor of Congress to introduce legislation for a federal holiday, commemorating King’s birthday 15 January.
The idea had no traction since Martin Luther King, Jr was seen as a troublemaker by some in his day.
He was vilified by many whites for his objection to the Vietnam War and his ideas that were seen as Marxist.
But John Conyers continued to push for the national holiday year after year picking up support along the way.
After a series push from to get the bill passed.
On 3 November, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the bill marking the third Monday of every January, as Martin Luther King, Jr Day.
Today, the holiday has become a call to action for all American citizens.
