Martin Luther King Jr (1929-1968)
Dr King was an American Political Activist and was the most famous leader of the American Civil Rights Movement.
He was also a baptist minister and showed non-violent resistance to racial oppression.
Dr Martin Luther King gave inspirational speeches on equality between the races and was regarded as
an American Hero in many people's eyes.
In 1955, Dr King was asked to lead a bus boycott in Montgomery after Rosa Parks was arrested for not following
the law that she, as a black woman, must give up her seat for a white person.
During the 381-day action, King was arrested, and jailed, and his home was bombed. Many threats were also
made against his life.
the boycott ended in 1956, after a mandate from the supreme court outlawing all segregated public transportation
in the city, this was a clear victory for the non-violent King and he emerged as a highly reapected leader.
he lead the historic march on Washington, and on the 28th August 1963, delivered his most memorable speech,
"I Have A Dream". In 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
On the 4th April 1968, Dr Martin Luther King was assasinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
the third monday in January is designated a federal legal holiday in honour of his birthday (which was the
15th January). his Atlanta birthplace and gravesite were made a national historic site.
