MLK Day Is More Than Just a Day Off!

On Monday, January 17, 2022, we will observe and honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's life and work. Dr. King dedicated his life to service, championing the civil rights movement. Some of his greatest achievements include:

• At the age of 26, he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott which started December 5, 1955, four days after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white man, and lasted for 385 days. The protest ended on December 20, 1956 after the US Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.

• He was the youngest recipient (at the age of 35) of the Nobel Peace Prize which he was awarded for his “non-violent struggle for civil rights for the Afro-American population.”

• He was instrumental in organizing the March on Washington in August 1963. This was where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to over 250,000 in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

The federal holiday came into being on January 20, 1986 and is observed with government offices and most schools and businesses closed.

The King Center’s theme for MLK Day in 2022 is: “It Starts with Me: Shifting Priorities to Create the Beloved Community.” To learn more visit the King Center website.

In many communities, MLK Day is observed as a day of community service. What will you do on MLK Day?

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