How the Martin Luther King Jr. birthday became a holiday

Many people don't realize how difficult it was to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday. It didn't happen in a flash. Getting to this position required 32 years of campaigning and agitation.

It wasn't until 1983 that all 50 states in the United States declared it a holiday, which began in the year 2000. Every year on the third Monday in January, the state government observes Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a state holiday. This is how he is remembered, despite the fact that his official birthday is January 15th.

History of Declaring Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday a Holiday

It was difficult to persuade Congress to proclaim Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday. To make it happen, his supporters had to put in a lot of effort and coordinate multiple initiatives. There was also significant debate about whether it should be declared a government holiday.

John Conyers, who was the driving force behind Martin Luther King Jr., formed the organization. It was the year 1968. This occurred immediately after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The House of Representatives did not begin voting for another 11 years, with the first official session taking place in 1979. However, the bill was defeated because five representatives voted against it during the voting process. With a vote count of 252-133, it fell short of the required two-thirds majority.

The followers and believers in Martin Luther King Jr.'s ideas were unmoved by this. Celebrities and musicians backed the campaign as well. Stevie Wonder recorded "Happy Birthday," a classic song dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, in 1981.

Activists and allies also held a march in Washington, D.C., which drew 500,000 people. During the march, Tip O'Neill was presented with a petition signed by 6 million people. At the time, Neill was the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In 1983, the parliament convened another voting session in response to the petition, which obtained 53 votes. Senators, on the other hand, were adamant in their opposition to the holiday's declaration. Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina was one of the opponents. Martin Luther King was accused of being a communist, and he responded with a 400-page dossier attempting to prove his innocence. Despite this, the bill was passed by the Senate by a vote of 12. Former President Ronald Reagan signed it in November 1983.

Martin Luther King's birthday was declared a federal holiday for the first time in 1986. However, not all states were supportive of it. In 1986, only 17 states took part, with the others rejecting the federal holiday, resulting in legislative squabbles.

In November 1990, a voter referendum in Arizona brought the fight to a close. The campaign to impose the holiday was defeated in a public ballot, but it was eventually accepted two years later.

Purpose of Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday

To honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s contributions to society, his birthday is commemorated as a national holiday. Civil rights, nonviolence, and public service are among his accomplishments. The annual holiday celebrates and recognizes his efforts to establish the ideals that we presently have.

Indeed, it was because of his stances that his birthday was declared a federal holiday, making such a stir around the world. Activists and supporters, on the other hand, persisted, and the holiday eventually gained international recognition.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday was declared a federal holiday after a long fight. We can now celebrate the King's advocacies every year thanks to supporters and activists who fought hard in the past.