Citizens unite for march in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Dandridge, TN
-Staff Photo by Jeff Depew

The Historic Town Square in Dandridge was alive with action on Monday, as a crowd gathered to welcome a parade of marchers and participate in a program to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Born on January 15, 1929, and assassinated on April 4, 1968, King became the driving force behind the movement for racial equality. In the days following his death, legislation was introduced to create a Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday. On January 15, 1969 the King Center held the first observance of his birthday, and though there were private ceremonies, it was not until 1973 that the first state, Illinois, signed the King Holiday Bill. By the end of the 1970s, a handful of states were on board with the King Holiday Bill but it floundered in Congress and missed being passed into law by just five votes. The King Center continued to work toward a National holiday to celebrate the life and work of Dr. King. Stevie Wonder funded a lobbying office and staff to keep the idea of a National holiday moving forward. In the early eighties, legislation was again on the floor and this time it found wings, thanks in part to nearly half a million people attending the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March in Washington, DC. In November of 1983, President Regan signed a bill establishing the third Monday in January as Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday. The bill took effect in 1986 and by then 17 states had official Martin Luther King holidays. By 1989, that number had grown to 44 and the Martin Luther King Federal Holiday Commission continued to work to grow the impact of the holiday. Today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is celebrated as a day of service. Jefferson County High School students lent their musical talents to the local program of celebration and Carson-Newman University students are using the week of the holiday to promote service to the community. The march from the dike to the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse has become an annual event and is growing as more people embrace the day of service and recognition of the contributions of Dr. King.