Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, January 16, 2023
On Monday, January 16, 2023, the nation will observe the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day national holiday. Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.
In 1979, a public campaign in support of officially recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday as a national holiday was launched. This community-based effort resulted in six million signatures for a petition to Congress and was recognized at the time as “the largest petition in favor of an issue in U.S. history.” In 1984, Congress passed legislation officially declaring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a national holiday. In 1994, Congress designated the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service. Every year, on the third Monday in January, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is observed as a “day on, not a day off.” The intention of the day is to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions for social ills, and lead us closer to achieving Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.” See more information from The King Center on the national holiday, Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community” and other initiatives to promote non-violence and equity.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter from Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963
Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street, will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2023, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Regular Village Hall hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. See information on accessing Village services online.