January 19 is Martin Luther, King Jr. Day

All of us  know that we enjoy a day off, but we often forget the importance of the day. Martin Luther King was an American pastor, activist, humanitarian. Although he did many great things, he is best know for the advancement in Civil Rights using nonviolent disobedience. On October 14, 1964, King received the Noble Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence. In 1968 King was planning a national occupation of Washington, D.C. when he was assassinated on April 4 in Memphis, Tennessee. King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a holiday in a number of cities and states. In 1986 it was recognized as a U.S. federal holiday.

This is why Martin Luther, Jr. King Day is important, not because we get a day off after finals. It is a day to remember how Dr. King changed America.