Saturday, January 13, 2007
The Family and Friends
Monday, January 01, 2007
Aunt Donna's MLK Jr. Day Facts (January)
1. The birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. is observed as a federal holiday on the third Monday in January.
2. Martin Luther King Jr was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929. He died on April 4, 1968 when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
3. He is the only American besides George Washington to have a national holiday declared for his birthday.
4. Rep. John Conyers from Michigan introduced legislation for a federal holiday to celebrate MLK Jr. four days after his death in 1968.
5. It took 15 years to create the federal Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday.
6. Illinois was the first state to adopt MLK Jr. Day as a state holiday in 1973
7. In 1983 congress passed legislation creating MLK Jr. Day and President Reagan signed it. In 1986 the federal holiday went into effect.
8. 1987, Arizona governor Evan Mecham rescinds MLK Jr. Day as his first act in office, setting off a boycott of the state. Arizona citizens voted to enact MLK Jr. Day in 1992.
9. 1999, New Hampshire becomes the last state to adopt MLK Jr. Day as a paid state holiday, replacing its optional Civil Rights Day.
10. 2000, South Carolina became the last state to make MLK Jr. Day a paid holiday for all state employees. Until then, employees could choose between celebrating it or one of three Confederate-related holidays.
2. Martin Luther King Jr was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929. He died on April 4, 1968 when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
3. He is the only American besides George Washington to have a national holiday declared for his birthday.
4. Rep. John Conyers from Michigan introduced legislation for a federal holiday to celebrate MLK Jr. four days after his death in 1968.
5. It took 15 years to create the federal Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday.
6. Illinois was the first state to adopt MLK Jr. Day as a state holiday in 1973
7. In 1983 congress passed legislation creating MLK Jr. Day and President Reagan signed it. In 1986 the federal holiday went into effect.
8. 1987, Arizona governor Evan Mecham rescinds MLK Jr. Day as his first act in office, setting off a boycott of the state. Arizona citizens voted to enact MLK Jr. Day in 1992.
9. 1999, New Hampshire becomes the last state to adopt MLK Jr. Day as a paid state holiday, replacing its optional Civil Rights Day.
10. 2000, South Carolina became the last state to make MLK Jr. Day a paid holiday for all state employees. Until then, employees could choose between celebrating it or one of three Confederate-related holidays.
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