The third Monday in January is an American holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It falls the birthday of the civil rights leader, who assassinated in 1968. King, a minister, became known non-violently protesting the treatment of African-Americans in the States and laws that discriminated against Blacks. Specifically, protested segregation that separated blacks and whites in restrooms, public pools, public schools, on buses, and restaurants. King led many marches in the United , especially in the South where segregation was especially and enforced, and in Washington D.C. His march Washington D.C. was perhaps his most famous one, he gave the "I have a Dream" speech.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, federal, state, and offices are closed including public schools and post . On the holiday many people participate in marches vigils remembering Dr. King. Others use the day a day of service and volunteer in their by cleaning up garbage in a local park serving food to the homeless. However, the holiday controversial. Some states didn't want to honor Dr. and tried to rename the holiday or combine day with another holiday.

Only two other people a U.S. national holiday, Christopher Columbus and George . Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a holiday 1983 after pressure from civil rights activists and , similar to the ones King used to lead. to create a King holiday began the same King was killed. The first state to recognize Day as a holiday was Illinois. The last to recognize the holiday was Arizona.