Black civil rights leader, minister, advocate of nonviolence and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1964). Born at Atlanta, GA, on January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated at Memphis, TN, Apr 4, 1968. After his death many states and territories observed his birthday as a holiday.
In 1983 Congress approved HR 3706, “A bill to amend Title 5, United States Code, to make the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr, a legal public holiday.” Signed by the president on Nov 2, 1983, it became Public Law 98– 144. The law sets the third Monday in January for observance of King’s birthday. First observance was Jan 20, 1986.
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