Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King was an American Baptist minister, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is the best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. He helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech. There, he established his reputation as one of the greatest orators in American history. In the speech "I have a dream" King called for an end to racism in the United States and called for civil and economic rights. 

In 1964 King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence.

In 1968, King was planning a national occupation of Washington D.C. when he was assassinated on April 4th in Memphis, Tennessee. his death was followed by riots in many U.S. cities.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established as a holiday in numerous cities and states beginning in 1971, and as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986.