To help increase awareness of religious diversity, my department's Wellness and Inclusion Team is doing a "Did you know" series. This series features information on various religious and secular celebrations throughout the year.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
(January 20, 2020)
Did you know?
Some of our colleagues will be celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. federal holiday that is celebrated on the third Monday of every year. While it is not an official holiday in Canada, some local governments, including the cities of Ottawa, Toronto and Montréal, commemorate it.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a pastor and prominent leader of the 1960s civil rights movement in the United States who advocated for love, peace, non-violence and equality.
- Dr. King is notably remembered for his "I Have a Dream" speech at the 1963 March on Washington, a defining moment in the civil rights movement. Dr. King also led the boycott for desegregation of the Montgomery, Alabama, bus system and fought for voting rights and fair wages for African Americans.
- At 35, he was the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Four days after Dr. King's assassination in 1968 (at the age of 39), Rep. John Conyers introduced legislation for an American federal holiday to commemorate Dr. King.
- Celebrations on Martin Luther King Jr. Day may include volunteering and serving communities as well as reflecting on the words of Dr. King.
We wish all those who celebrate a "Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!"
