1983 – President Reagan Signs Bill Creating Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Although the final bill signing took place in November 1983, May 30 marked a critical step when President Ronald Reagan publicly announced support for the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., following intense national lobbying and protests. After years of resistance from lawmakers, activists—including Coretta Scott King—had mobilized millions of Americans in support of the holiday, including a petition with over six million signatures. Reagan’s shift in stance on May 30 opened the door for bipartisan passage of the bill. The eventual law established Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday observed each January, beginning in 1986. This date represents a significant victory in honoring the legacy of a civil rights icon and institutionalizing memory in the national calendar. Recognizing May 30 honors the persistence and strategic organizing that made the dream of a national holiday for Dr. King a reality.