Since 1986 schools, offices and federal agencies remain closed on the third Monday of January in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the only federal holiday commemorating an African-American.

In the 1950s Dr. King began organizing non-violent protests against unequal treatment of African Americans. His efforts propelled the Civil Rights movement forward. Although his philosophy of peace and non-violence rallied many followers, his demonstrations often ended in violence because of the passion he invoked, and he and his followers constantly had to deal with threats and attacks.

In 1968 a sniper assassinated Dr. King during a worker’s strike in Tennessee, but the Civil Rights Movement did not die with him. His widow and many others influenced by Dr. King’s message promoting peace, social justice and racial and social equality have continued to impact civil rights in the United States.