On January 16, all of us take a day off to celebrate the life of a man who brought courage, honor and justice for the United States. Born on January 15th, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr was an American civil rights activist who played a pinnacle role in the movement between from the mid 1950s, until his assassination in 1968. Dr King was committed to making an equality and justice for African Americans and for the economically disadvantaged.

Former President Ronald Reagan was interested in establishing a commission on August 27th, 1984, to observe the idea of creating a federal holiday for Dr King. Reagan then on January 18th, 1986, made an even bigger observance of his birthday being a national holiday for all of his contributions of peace in America. Another president, former President Bill Clinton signed the Martin Luther King Jr Federal Holiday and Service act on August 23rd, 1994. This did not only expand the purpose of the holiday, but it also included a day of community service and anti-violence initiatives.

Dr. King had many accomplishments to admire back then, and now as well. He led one of the biggest civil rights acts at that time: The Montgomery bus boycott. On December 1st, 1955, a lady named Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat in a bus for a white male due to segregation laws. This all led to a boycott planned by Dr King and E.D Nixon, which lasted 385 days. Dr. King’s house was exploded, and he was threatened many times. Eventually the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional on December 20th, 1956, ending the protests.

To this Day, Martin Luther King Jr is remembered as an American hero in times of crisis for the U.S. back in the civil rights movements. His courage and necessity for justice can be recognized by not only African Americans, but anyone facing prejudice. Dr. King famously quoted: “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”