President Reagan signs the bill establishing a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
At a Glance
- Date
- 2 November 1983
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Key people
- Ronald Reagan, Coretta Scott King
- Category
- Civil Rights Movement
- Source
- Public Law 98-144 (1983) · National Archives
What It Meant Then
It made King the first Black American and first non-president honored with a federal holiday.
What It Means Now
The holiday is observed on the third Monday of January.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Is Signed Into Law.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-martin-luther-king-jr-holiday-is-signed-into-law/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Is Signed Into Law. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-martin-luther-king-jr-holiday-is-signed-into-law/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Is Signed Into Law.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-martin-luther-king-jr-holiday-is-signed-into-law/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.