Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States, observed annually on the third Monday of January. This year, it falls on January 20, 2025.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister and social activist, grew up during a time of racial prejudice and legalized segregation that greatly influenced his life's work. He became a significant figure in the U.S. civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. Dr. King played a crucial role in ending legal segregation for African American citizens in the United States and was instrumental in the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Among other accolades, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He was known as "a tireless advocate for the nation’s working class and the oppressed around the world," with his legacy continuing to inspire Americans today.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is located in West Potomac Park, Washington, D.C., and is notable as "the first to honor an African American individual on the National Mall." Dedicated in 2011, it comprises several symbolic elements including a statue, a wall, and two granite boulders featuring engraved quotations that reflect various aspects of Dr. King's thoughts over time. These quotations can be found on the National Park Service website: https://www.nps.gov/mlkm/learn/quotations.htm.
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, "U.S. Embassy Finland is closed on Monday, January 20."