Happy Martin Luther King Day 2020

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.,[1] and sometimes referred to as MLK Day) is an American federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year. King’s birthday is January 15. The holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The earliest Monday for this holiday is January 15 and the latest is January 21.

King was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed three years later. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.

History

Sign (1969) pro­mot­ing a holiday on the an­ni­ver­sa­ry of King’s death

Ronald Reagan and Coretta Scott King at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day signing ceremony.

The idea of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday was promoted by labor unions in contract negotiations.[2] After King’s death, U.S. Representative John Conyers (a Democrat from Michigan) and U.S. Senator Edward Brooke (a Republican from Massachusetts) introduced a bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday. The bill first came to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1979. However, it fell five votes short of the number needed for passage.[3] Two of the main arguments mentioned by opponents were that a paid holiday for federal employees would be too expensive and that a holiday to honor a private citizen would be contrary to longstanding tradition (King had never held public office).[3] Only two other figures have national holidays in the U.S. honoring them: George Washington and Christopher Columbus.

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Death and memorial

Martin Luther King Jr.'s signature

Soon after, the King Center turned to support from the corporate community and the general public. The success of this strategy was cemented when musician Stevie Wonder released the single “Happy Birthday” to popularize the campaign in 1980 and hosted the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981. Six million signatures were collected for a petition to Congress to pass the law, termed by a 2006 article in The Nation as “the largest petition in favor of an issue in U.S. history”.[2]

Senators Jesse Helms and John Porter East (both North Carolina Republicans) led the opposition to the holiday and questioned whether King was important enough to receive such an honor. Helms criticized King’s opposition to the Vietnam War and accused him of espousing “action-oriented Marxism“.[4] Helms led a filibuster against the bill and on October 3, 1983, submitted a 300-page document to the Senate alleging that King had associations with communists. Democratic New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan declared the document a “packet of filth”, threw it on the Senate floor and stomped on it.[5][6]

President Ronald Reagan originally opposed the holiday, citing cost concerns. When asked to comment on Helms’ accusations that King was a communist, the president said “We’ll know in thirty-five years, won’t we?”, referring to the eventual release of FBI surveillance tapes that had previously been sealed.[7] But on November 2, 1983, Reagan signed a bill, proposed by Representative Katie Hall of Indiana, to create a federal holiday honoring King.[8][9] The bill had passed the Senate by a count of 78 to 22[10] and the House of Representatives by 338 to 90, veto-proof margins.[4] The holiday was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986.[9] It is observed on the third Monday of January.[11]

The bill also established the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission to oversee observance of the holiday, and Coretta Scott King, King’s wife, was made a member of this commission for life by President George H. W. Bush in May 1989.[12][13]

State-level passage

Although the federal holiday honoring King was signed into law in 1983 and took effect three years later, not every U.S. state chose to observe the holiday at the state level until 1991, when the New Hampshire legislature created “Civil Rights Day” and abolished “Fast Day“.[14] In 2000, New Hampshire became the last state to name a holiday after King. [15]

In 1986, Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt, a Democrat, created a paid state MLK holiday in Arizona by executive order just before he left office, but in 1987, his Republican successor Evan Mecham, citing an attorney general’s opinion that Babbitt’s order was illegal, reversed Babbitt’s decision days after taking office.[16] Later that year, Mecham proclaimed the third Sunday in January to be “Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day” in Arizona, albeit as an unpaid holiday.[17] In 1990, Arizona voters were given the opportunity to vote on giving state employees a paid MLK holiday. That same year, the National Football League threatened to move Super Bowl XXVII, which was planned for Arizona in 1993, if the MLK holiday was voted down.[18] In the November election, the voters were offered two King Day options: Proposition 301, which replaced Columbus Day on the list of paid state holidays, and Proposition 302, which merged Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays into one paid holiday to make room for MLK Day. Both measures failed to pass, with only 49% of voters approving Prop 302, the more popular of the two options; although some who voted “no” on 302 voted “yes” on Prop 301.[19] Consequently, the state lost the chance to host Super Bowl XXVII, which was subsequently held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.[18] In a 1992 referendum, the voters, this time given only one option for a paid King Day, approved state-level recognition of the holiday.[20]

On May 2, 2000, South Carolina governor Jim Hodges signed a bill to make King’s birthday an official state holiday. South Carolina was the last state to recognize the day as a paid holiday for all state employees. Before the bill, employees could choose between celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day or one of three Confederate holidays.[21] The municipal government of Forest City, North Carolina allows employees to choose between their own birthday or Martin Luther King Jr. Day for a paid holiday.[citation needed]

Alternative names

While all states now observe the holiday, some did not name the day after King. For example, in New Hampshire, the holiday was known as “Civil Rights Day” until 1999, when the State Legislature voted to change the name of the holiday to Martin Luther King Day.[22]

Several additional states have chosen to combine commemorations of King’s birthday with other observances:

  • In Alabama: “Robert E. Lee/Martin Luther King Birthday”.[23]
  • In Arizona: “Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day”.[24]
  • In Arkansas: it was known as “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday and Robert E. Lee’s Birthday” from 1985 to 2017. Legislation in March 2017 changed the name of the state holiday to “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday” and moved the commemoration of Lee to October.
  • In Idaho: “Martin Luther King Jr.–Idaho Human Rights Day“.[25]
  • In Mississippi: “Martin Luther King’s and Robert E. Lee’s Birthdays”.[26]
  • In New Hampshire: “Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Day”.[27]
  • In Virginia: it was known as Lee–Jackson–King Day, combining King’s birthday with the established Lee–Jackson Day.[28] In 2000, Lee–Jackson Day was moved to the Friday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday in its own right.[29]
  • in Wyoming: it is known as “Martin Luther King Jr./Wyoming Equality Day”. Liz Byrd, the first black woman in Wyoming legislature, introduced a bill in 1991 for Wyoming to recognize MLK day as a paid state holiday, however, she compromised on the name because her peers would not pass it otherwise.[30]

Workplace observance

A Martin Luther King Day march in Oregon

Overall, in 2007, 33% of employers gave employees the day off, a 2% increase over the previous year. There was little difference in observance by large and small employers: 33% for firms with over 1,000 employees; and, 32% for firms with under 1,000 employees. The observance is most popular among nonprofit organizations and least popular among factories and manufacturers.[31] The reasons for this have varied, ranging from the recent addition of the holiday to its occurrence just two weeks after the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, when many businesses are closed for part or all of it. Additionally, many schools and places of higher education are closed for classes; others remain open but may hold seminars or celebrations of King’s message. The observance of MLK Day has led to some colleges and universities extending their Christmas break to include the day as part of the break. Some factories and manufacturers used MLK Day as a floating or movable holiday.[citation needed]

King Day of Service

Former President Barack Obama serving lunch at a Washington soup kitchen on MLK Jr. Day, 2010

The national Martin Luther King Day of Service[32] was started by former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, who co-authored the King Holiday and Service Act. The federal legislation challenges Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of citizen action volunteer service in honor of King. The federal legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 23, 1994. Since 1996, Wofford’s former state office director, Todd Bernstein, has been directing the annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service,[33] the largest event in the nation honoring King.[34]

Several other universities and organizations around the U.S., such as Arizona State University, Greater DC Cares and City Year, participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. In honor of MLK, hundreds of Volunteer Centers, and volunteers across the country donate their time to make a difference on this day.[citation needed]

The only other official national day of service in the U.S., as designated by the government, is September 11 National Day of Service (9/11 Day).[citation needed]

Outside the United States

Canada

The City of Toronto government in Ontario officially recognizes Martin Luther King Jr. Day, although not as a paid holiday: all government services and businesses remain open.[35] The Ottawa municipal government in Ontario officially began observing this national holiday on January 26, 2005.[36]

Israel

In 1984, during a visit by the U.S. Sixth Fleet, Navy chaplain Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff conducted the first Israeli presidential ceremony in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, held in the President’s Residence, Jerusalem. Aura Herzog, wife of Israel’s then-President Chaim Herzog, noted that she was especially proud to host this special event, because Israel had a national forest in honor of King, and that Israel and King shared the idea of “dreams”.[37] Resnicoff continued this theme in his remarks during the ceremony, quoting the verse from Genesis, spoken by the brothers of Joseph when they saw their brother approach, “Behold the dreamer comes; let us slay him and throw him into the pit, and see what becomes of his dreams.” Resnicoff noted that, from time immemorial, there have been those who thought they could kill the dream by slaying the dreamer, but – as the example of King’s life shows – such people are always wrong.[38]

Japan

One place outside the U.S. where Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed in the Japanese city of Hiroshima under mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, who holds a special banquet at the mayor’s office as an act of unifying his city’s call for peace with King’s message of human rights.[39]

Netherlands

Every year, since 1987, the Dr. Martin Luther King Tribute and Dinner has been held in Wassenaar, The Netherlands.[40] The Tribute includes young people and veterans of the Civil Rights Movement as well as music. It always ends with everyone holding hands in a circle and singing “We Shall Overcome”. The Tribute is held on the last Sunday in January and bridges Dr. King’s birthday and Black History Month.[citation needed]

Dates

1986–2103

DateYears
January 211991200220082013201920302036204120472058206420692075208620922097
January 2019861992199720032014202020252031204220482053205920702076208120872098
January 1919871998200420092015202620322037204320542060206520712082208820932099
January 1819881993199920102016202120272038204420492055206620722077208320942100
January 1719942000200520112022202820332039205020562061206720782084208920952101
January 1619891995200620122017202320342040204520512062206820732079209020962102
January 1519901996200120072018202420292035204620522057206320742080208520912103

See also

General holidays
Volunteer day events

References

  1. ^ “Federal Holidays”. Opm.gov. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  2. ^ Jump up to:a b Jones, William P. (January 30, 2006). “Working-Class Hero”. The Nation. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  3. ^ Jump up to:a b Wolfensberger, Don (January 14, 2008). “The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday: The Long Struggle in Congress, An Introductory Essay” (PDF). Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  4. ^ Jump up to:a b Dewar, Helen (October 4, 1983). “Helms Stalls King’s Day in Senate”. The Washington Post. p. A01. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  5. ^ Romero, Frances (January 18, 2010). “A Brief History of Martin Luther King Jr. Day”. Time.
  6. ^ Courtwright, David T. (2010). No Right Turn: Conservative Politics in a Liberal America. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-674-04677-1.
  7. ^ Younge, Gary (September 2–9, 2013). “The Misremembering of ‘I Have a Dream‘“. The Nation. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  8. ^ Woolley, John T.; Gerhard Peters (November 2, 1983). “Ronald Reagan: Remarks on Signing the Bill Making the Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., a National Holiday”. The American Presidency Project. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  9. ^ Jump up to:a b Pub.L. 98–399, 98 Stat. 1475, enacted November 2, 1983
  10. ^ Dewar, Helen (October 20, 1983). “Solemn Senate Votes For National Holiday Honoring Rev. King”. The Washington Post. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  11. ^ May, Ashley (January 18, 2019). “What is open and closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?”. USA Today. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  12. ^ Woolley, John T.; Gerhard Peters (May 17, 1989). “George Bush: Remarks on Signing the Martin Luther King Jr., Federal Holiday Commission Extension Act”. The American Presidency Project. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  13. ^ Pub.L. 101–30, 103 Stat. 60, enacted May 17, 1989
  14. ^ Gilbreth, Donna (1997). “Rise and Fall of Fast Day”. New Hampshire State Library. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved January 17,2011.
  15. ^ “N.H.’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Didn’t Happen Without A Fight”. New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  16. ^ Ye Hee Lee, Michelle (January 15, 2012). “Recalling Arizona’s struggle for MLK holiday”. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  17. ^ “Civil Rights Day in United States”. timeanddate.com. Time and Date AS. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  18. ^ Jump up to:a b “tucsonsentinel.com”. tucsonsentinel.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  19. ^ Shumway, Jim (November 26, 1990). “STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS – GENERAL ELECTION – November 6, 1990” (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State ~ Home Page. Arizona Secretary of State. p. 12. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  20. ^ Reingold, Beth (2000). Representing Women: Sex, Gender, and Legislative Behavior in Arizona and California. Univ of North Carolina Press. pp. 66–. ISBN 9780807848500. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  21. ^ The History of Martin Luther King Day, Infoplease
  22. ^ Goldberg, Carey (May 26, 1999). “Contrarian New Hampshire To Honor Dr. King, at Last”. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  23. ^ “Calendar”. Alabama.gov.
  24. ^ “1–301. Holidays enumerated”. Arizona Legislature.
  25. ^ “TItle 73”. Idaho.gov.
  26. ^ “State Holidays”. MS.gov.
  27. ^ “CHAPTER 288 HOLIDAYS”. New Hampshire General Court.
  28. ^ Petrie, Phil W. (May–June 2000). “The MLK holiday: Branches work to make it work”. The New Crisis. Retrieved November 12, 2008.
  29. ^ Duran, April (April 10, 2000). “Virginia creates holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr”. On The Lege. Virginia Commonwealth University. Archived from the original on July 11, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  30. ^ “Liz Byrd, First Black Woman in Wyoming’s Legislature | WyoHistory.org”. www.wyohistory.org. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  31. ^ Cody, Karen James (January 9, 2007). “More Employers Plan to Observe Martin Luther King Day”. Bureau of National Affairs. Archived from the original on January 17, 2011.
  32. ^ “Volunteer opportunities and resources for organizing an MLK Day of Service event”. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service homepage. Corporation for National and Community Service.
  33. ^ “Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service”. Global Citizen.
  34. ^ Moore, Doug (January 16, 2011). “MLK events in Missouri form man’s legacy”. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on January 20, 2011.
  35. ^ Miller, David (2008). “City of Toronto Proclamation”. City of Toronto government. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012.
  36. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/mlk-martin-luther-king-day-city-hall-ottawa-first-time-1.3937716
  37. ^ The Jewish Week & The American Examiner, pg 37, February 3, 1986.
  38. ^ “Arnold Resnicoff”. Library of Congress Veterans History Project Oral History. May 2010. At 1 hour 37 Min.
  39. ^ “Mayor’s Speech at U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Luncheon in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr”. city.hiroshima.lg.jp.
  40. ^ “Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Dinner”. U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the Netherlands. January 30, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.

Further reading

External links