How Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Monday, January 19, 2026

State observances

Rev. Hesburgh standing side by side with Martin Luther King fighting for equality in America. | Pierce pr

Over the years, several states have passed laws recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a state holiday, with Illinois being the first to do so in 1973.

The measure was introduced by Illinois state lawmaker Harold Washington, who would go on to serve in U.S. Congress and lobby for the federal holiday there as well.

“As a state legislator in Springfield I led the fight to make King's birthday a state holiday. In Washington, I have already joined ... in sponsoring a bill which will make King's birthday a national holiday,” stated Washington in a 1981 speech in Chicago.

“We honor Martin Luther King only when we work to complete the justice struggle for which he gave his life.”

Eventually, all 50 states would make the observance a state holiday, the last of which was New Hampshire, which voted to do so in 1999.

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