When was Martin Luther King Day made a federal holiday? The day celebrating the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was established as a federal holiday in the United States on November 2, 1983. It was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, following years of advocacy and a grassroots movement to honor the civil rights leader.

The journey to establish Martin Luther King Day as a federal holiday was a long and arduous one. Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, just days after delivering a speech in support of striking sanitation workers. His death sparked a wave of grief and anger across the nation, and many called for a day to remember his contributions to the civil rights movement.

The first proposal for a federal holiday honoring Dr. King was introduced in Congress in 1968 by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Sen. Edward Brooke (R-Mass.). However, it failed to gain enough support. It wasn’t until 1979 that the holiday gained traction, when Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Rep. Augustus Hawkins (D-Calif.) reintroduced the bill, which was then known as the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Bill.

The campaign to establish the holiday was led by the King Center, a non-profit organization founded by Dr. King’s widow, Coretta Scott King. The center, along with other civil rights groups, organized a national campaign to educate the public about Dr. King’s legacy and the importance of a holiday in his honor. The campaign included the distribution of millions of postcards, phone calls to Congress, and the gathering of thousands of signatures on petitions.

The efforts of the civil rights movement and the persistent advocacy of Coretta Scott King and other supporters finally paid off when President Reagan signed the bill into law. Martin Luther King Day was officially designated as a federal holiday, to be observed on the third Monday of January each year, beginning in 1986.

The holiday serves as a reminder of Dr. King’s unwavering commitment to equality, justice, and peace. It provides an opportunity for Americans to reflect on the progress that has been made in the civil rights movement, as well as the challenges that remain. Martin Luther King Day is a time to celebrate the life and work of a man who inspired millions to fight for a more just and inclusive society.