Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, January 15, 2024
Beyond Toxics celebrates MLK Day!
Today marks Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This holiday is a time to remember and commemorate a great civil rights leader who pushed our nation to work towards greater justice for all people. We at Beyond Toxics draw a connection from the Civil Rights Movement to the Environmental Justice Movement of today, and we are especially inspired by the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On this special holiday when we reflect on our work, we think of the injustices facing frontline communities throughout our cities, states, nations, and the world. Today represents an opportunity for us to draw inspiration from past movements for justice and follow the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on our journey towards environmental justice.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
No figure is more closely identified with the mid-20th century struggle for civil rights than Martin Luther King, Jr. His adoption of nonviolent resistance to achieve equal rights for Black Americans earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. King is remembered for his masterful oratorical skills, most memorably in his "I Have a Dream" speech.
Learn more about Dr. King and his legacy of activism and nonviolence via the NAACP's resources->>
Learn more about the Lane County chapter of the NAACP->>
* Martin Luther King Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and sometimes referred to as MLK Day) is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year. Born in 1929, King's actual birthday is January 15 (which in 1929 fell on a Tuesday).
Read some of Dr. King's more famous quotes
On Aug. 28, 1963, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed thousands of people gathered around the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington.
"I have a Dream" Martin Luther King Jr. Full Speech with Subtitle (YouTube)
RESOURCES
Teaching and Learning About Martin Luther King Jr. With The New York Times
How do you celebrate and teach the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., both on the holiday that celebrates his birth, and all year long? By The Learning Network, Published Jan. 15, 2020 (Updated Jan. 12, 2022)
About Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesman and leader in the American civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. King advanced civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi. He was the son of early civil rights activist and minister Martin Luther King Sr. (MORE)
