
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Bill


Legislative Discussions about the King Holiday Bill
(L-R): House Majority Leader Rep. Jim Wright (D-TX), Coretta Scott King, Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI)

S.J. Res. 5-Introduction of a joint resolution relating to Martin Luther King birthday
Remarks of Sen. Brooke when he introduces the joint resolution.

Civil Rights Activist Walter Fauntroy
Southern Christian Leadership Conference leader, and future delegate to U.S. Congress, Walter Fauntroy meets with other civil rights activists after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King’s birthday-January 15-should be a national holiday
Sen. Ryan's speech on making January 15, the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. a national holiday. In the speech, he advocates the bill, H.R. 7703 (designating January 15 a national holiday), submitted by John Conyers.

Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) and Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-NY)
Eight African Americans serving in Congress said that Judge Clement F. Haynsworth's record on civil rights demonstrated his "infidelity to the principles of racial equality which are contained in the Constitution." Rep. John Conyers Jr., Democrat - Michigan (L) and...

Introduction of H.R. 15619, to designate birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. a holiday

Ronald Reagan Signs The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Bill
In the presence of Coretta Scott King (2nd from left), President Ronald Reagan signs a bill making Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday.

Part of debate/speech on Martin Luther King holiday bill (H.R. 15951)
A speech by Joshua Eilberg on the proposed Monday Holiday bill (H.R. 15951). The bill is to move existing three holidays (George Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day) to Monday and to establish a legal public holiday in honor of Christopher Columbus....

African American House Members in Meeting
African American House members told President Nixon that minority groups have suffered "irreparable harm" under his Administration. The 12 African American House Representatives, plus a newly elected African American nonvoting House delegate from the District of...

Introduction of H.R. 15653, to designate birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. a holiday

Black Soldiers Observe MLK Birthday in Long Binh, Vietnam
Black soldiers take part in the observance of the birthday of the late Martin Luther King Jr. January 15, 1971. About 30 soldiers were involved in the gathering on the U.S. Army base at Long Binh, Vietnam.