Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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Did you know…Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made frequent trips to Miami throughout his life, and even delivered an early version of his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the Hampton House in 1960?

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On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law, designating the third Monday in January a federal holiday in observance of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The legislation to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first introduced just four days after his assassination on April 4, 1968. Still, it would take 15 years of persistence by civil rights activists for the holiday to be approved by the federal government and an additional 17 years for it to be recognized in all 50 states. Today, it is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities.

In 1977, Miami became the first city in the United States to organize a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade. The parade, which has been taking place for over 40 years occurs along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in Liberty City.

Image: Float representing the city of Opa-Locka parades down Martin Luther King Boulevard on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19, 1987. Joe Raedle, photographer. Courtesy of HistoryMiami Museum.

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