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Inside this issue:

    

  The Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. , often called Martin Luther King Day, is a United States national holiday marking the birth date of Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, January 15.

 

     Martin Luther King Day was founded as a holiday promoted by labor unions in contract negotiations. After King's death in 1968, Rep. John Conyers introduced a bill in Congress to make King's birthday a national holiday, highlighting King's activism on behalf of trade unionists. Unions did most of the promotion for the holiday throughout the 1970s. In 1976, trade unionists helped to elect  Jimmy Carter, who endorsed the King Day bill. After that endorsement, union influence in the King holiday campaign declined, and the King Center  turned to support from the corporate community and the general public. On  November 2, 1983, President Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King. It was observed for the first time on  January 20, 1986.On  January 17, 2000,Martin Luther King Day was officially observed in all 50  U.S. states.

 

     In 1986, Utah declared the Martin Luther King holiday to be an official State of Utah holiday referred to as, the "Martin Luther King, Jr. / Human Rights Day."

     In 1991, a Governor's Executive Order established the State of Utah, Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Commission ("MLK Human Rights Commission").

In 1993, the MLK Human Rights Commission was successful in urging the renaming of 600th South Street in downtown Salt Lake City to "Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard."

In 2000, the Utah State Legislature voted to change the name of the holiday from Human Rights Day to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Governor Michael O. Leavitt signed the bill officially naming the holiday "Martin Luther King, Jr. Day."

 

     The day is marked by demonstrations for  peace, social justice and racial and  class equality, as well as a national day of volunteer  community service.

 

SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE THAT DAY IN SALT LAKE:

 

- 2007 Martin Luther King Drum Major Awards Luncheon

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Commission and the Utah Office of Ethnic Affairs are pleased to announce their annual "Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Awards Luncheon"  Date: January 12, 2007 Time:11:30 am to 1:00 pm Where:Utah Cultural Celebration Center (1355 W. 3100 S. West Valley City, Utah 84119, 801-965-5100)

 

- Basic Health Care Day at the Utah Capital

“Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  One in four Utahns cannot afford the healthcare that they need. Come help make the health crisis visible.  Parking is limited so it is encouraged to take TRAX then Bus # 23. For more information call Bill Germundson at Crossroads Urban Center (801)364 7765 or visit www.utahhealthstories.blogspot.com

Date: January 15, 2007,Time:1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Where Utah State Capital , West Building

January 2007   Issue #7