What's open, what's closed?
By Spencer Kent | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, is Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday commemorating the life and achievements of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
The day has also become a time when people in communities throughout the country participate in service events in their neighborhoods.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation designating every third Monday in January as Martin Luther King Day — commonly abbreviated as MLK Day.
Because MLK Day is a national holiday, some institutions and businesses are closed on Monday. Here’s a closer look at what’s open and what’s closed.
HE WAS a Christian minister and activist who led a groundbreaking civil rights movement - and gave African Americans the courage to speak up against injustice.
But Martin Luther King Jr.'s life was tragically cut short, when he was assassinated at age 39. Here we tell you everything you need to know about King, and how his life and work is remembered today.
Getty Images Martin Luther King Jr. was a leading figure in America's civil rights movement
When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2018?
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an American federal holiday.
King was born in Atlanta on January 15 - and the holiday falls on the nearest Monday to this date.
Several cities and states began to mark the day in 1971, just three years after his death, and the date became an American federal holiday in 1986.
Hundreds of streets in the United States have been renamed in King's honour, as well as a whole county in Washington State.
Nearly 50 years after his death, King continues to inspire - and President Barack Obama famously asked for his bust to be placed in the Oval Office.
AP Pictured with his wife, Coretta, after leaving jail in 1956. King was found guilty of conspiracy to boycott city buses, but a judge suspended his $500 fine following an appeal
Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?
King was born in 1929 and became a Baptist minister and activist, who led a movement of nonviolent civil disobedience.
He led the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955, where people took a stand against racial segregation by refusing to surrender their seats to white people.
The campaign lasted for a year, and was sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks - who refused to give up her seat.
Getty Images King addresses a crowd of demonstrators at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
King organised several nonviolent protests and marches in the following decade.
He helped to organise the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream speech' and earned his reputation as one of he greatest public speakers in American history.
More of King's famous quotes include 'injustice is a threat to justice everywhere', and 'our lives begin to end the day we become silent on the things that matter'.
In 1964, King received a Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent fight against racial inequality.
Getty Images King arrives in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965 - at the culmination of the Selma to Montgomery March. Pictured with Ralph Bunche, Coretta Scott King, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and Hosea Williams (left-right)
In the final years of his life, King's focus changed to include a resistance to widespread poverty and the Vietnam War. The latter alienated many of his liberal allies.
In 1968, King was planning a national occupation of Washington - called the Poor People's Campaign.
King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4 - and his death was followed by riots in many US cities.
He was shot by a single bullet fired by James Earl Day at 6pm, as he stood on the second floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel.
King died an hour later at St Joseph's Hospital, and Ray was sentenced to 99 years in prison - after pleading guilty to avoid receiving the death penalty.
Ray died in prison in 1998, when he was 70 years old.
MORE NEWS 'NO CHOICE' Building giant Carillion goes into liquidation with thousands of jobs at risk CASSIE 'DATED SUSPECT'S EX' 'Love triangle' clue to travel agent killing as man is charged TALE OF TWO BRITAINS Snow to hit UK THIS WEEK but some parts will be hotter than Istanbul BRIT DEATH Woman found dead next to partner at Australian flat in suspected murder-suicide BRITAIN'S GREAT GETAWAY Exotic holidays are about to get a lot, lot cheaper SOLD DOWN THE RIVER Robbed Amazon driver sacked then told to pay for van AND stolen parcels
How is Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrated?
As Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday, civil servants and most school pupils get the day off. Some other companies also opt to have a paid holiday on MLK Day.
It's a day for religious services, educating the kids and looking back on how race relations have improved.
Over the years, it has evolved into a 'day of service' - when Americans are encouraged to volunteer and help those less fortunate.
The US financial markets will be closed for the day.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and there are several events happening in West Michigan to commemorate the day.
Below are a list of events happening in West Michigan, by county. If you know of an event that is not listed, send an email to ReportIt@woodtv.com with a link that confirms the event.
Calhoun County
God’s Kitchen Martin Luther King soul food dinner | Battle Creek Masonic Center, 133 East Michigan Avenue | 5-6:30 p.m. Monday
Kalamazoo County
City of Kalamazoo Communitywide Day of Services | Meet at City Hall | 8 a.m. Monday
God’s Kitchen Martin Luther King soul food dinner | First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, 212 South Park Street | 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday
Kalamazoo MLK Day commemorative walk | Starts at Kanley Chapel on WMU’s campus, ends at MLK Park | 3:30-4:30 p.m. Monday
Northside Ministerial Alliance 32nd Annual MLK Celebration | Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 120 Roberson St, Kalamazoo, MI | 4 p.m. Sunday
Northeastern Elementary MLK Day Celebration | 2433 Gertrude St, Kalamazoo | 2:30 p.m. Monday
Western Michigan University MLK Day Teach-In | Bernhard Center, Room 210, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday
Kent County
32nd Annual MLK Day Community Celebration | Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids | 6 p.m.
Calvin College MLK Day | Begins at 8 a.m. Monday, click to view full schedule of events and locations
“I Dream” performance by the Grand Rapids Opera | Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids | 7:30 p.m. Monday
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service luncheon | Senior Neighbors, 333 Division Ave. South, Grand Rapids | Event will honor military veterans | 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Monday
Salvation Army Housing Assessment Program Martin Luther King Day project | Linc Up, 1167 Madison Ave SE, Grand Rapids | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Monday
18th Annual Urban League of West Michigan MLK Breakfast | DeVos Place, Grand Rapids | 7:30 a.m. Monday
Muskegon County
Martin Luther King Jr. Free Community Day | Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 W Webster Ave. | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday
Soup & Service | United Way office, 31 E. Clay Avenue, Muskegon | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday
Ottawa County
Hope College Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lecture | Dimnent Memorial Chapel, 277 College Ave., Holland | Event will feature Rev. Dr. Carolyn Maull McKinstry, a survivor of the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama | 7 p.m. Monday
Share this: Email
More
Tumblr
Arts Council of Princeton Day of Activities
The Arts Council of Princeton will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of live music, interactive workshops, and discussions as they relate to Dr. King’s life, teachings and civic engagement. The celebratory day will begin with a community Breakfast at 9 a.m., followed by hands-on activities for all ages.
Schedule:
Community Breakfast – Speakers: Princess Hoagland, Not in Town Princeton; Monique Jones, Princeton Public Schools; James Fields, Christian Union of Princeton. 9 a.m.
Art and history activities for all ages including open archive by the Historical Society of Princeton from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
First Baptist Church Choir performs 2 to 3 p.m.
Screening of Teach US All from 3 to 5 p.m. Teach Us All is a documentary and social justice campaign on educational inequality set against the backdrop of the 1957 Little Rock school crisis.
Hopewell Valley Scouts Host a Day of Service for All
Hopewell Valley Scouts will host a Martin Luther King Day of Service event from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church, which is located at 80 W Broad Street in Hopewell Borough. All are welcome – participants do not need to be Scouts. Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Activity stations will include native seed bombs, fleece blankets, baking and more. Donations of winter coats, canned goods and money will be accepted. Service and donations will benefit several local organizations including The Sourland Conservancy, Seeds to Sew, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Rescue Mission of Trenton and Mercer Street Friends.
West Windsor Day of Service
La Convivencia, the West Windsor Arts Council, and the African-American Parent Support Group are partnering to have their first MLK Day of Service. Families are invited to make personal care kits and decorate bags to donate to Arm In Arm families. Personal care items will be supplied. A great event for children, from pre-schoolers to teens. The aim of the event is to bring diverse communities together through service in order to build strong relationship and create the “Beloved and Inclusive Community” that Dr. King envisioned. Make it a day on, not a day off where everyone can be great because everyone can serve. 9 a.m. to noon, West Windsor Arts Council, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor.
Martin Luther King Day of Service at the Mapleton Preserve
Join Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands for an invigorating cleanup session, clearing small trees, brush, vines, and trash in the Mapleton Preserve. Come spend a winter afternoon outdoors, and discover the special joys of stewardship! Bring tools such as saws, clippers, loppers, and rakes. Work gloves, sturdy shoes, warm clothing and hats are a must. All are welcome. noon to 3 p.m. The entrance to the Mapleton Preserve is at 145 Mapleton Road in Kingston. If approaching the Preserve from Rt. 27, the entrance is on the left, marked by a wooden sign for the D & R Canal State Park.
Trenton Music Makers Orchestra Concert
An open-door concert in honor of the Rec. Martin Luther King Jr. by the Trenton Music Makers Orchestra. 5:30 p.m., Lewis Center for the Arts, Lee Family Music Room, Princeton University.
Princeton Clergy Association Multifaith Service
Join the Princeton Clergy Association’s annual multi-faith Service to commemorate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 30 Green Street Princeton. Half of a free-will offering collected during the service will go toward the work of the Coalition for Peace Action. The other half will go to the United Negro College Fund. The service will include music from a range of faith traditions.The Rev. Robert Moore will give the sermon at the service. The public is welcome to attend.
