Martin Luther King was an advocate for human rights. He protested against discrimination, injustice, and bigotry. The concept of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a legal holiday was promoted by many labor unions. After King’s death, U.S. Representative John Conyers and U.S. Senator Edward Brooke introduced a bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday. When the new bill first came up for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1979 it fell five votes short of the number needed for passage. Two of the main arguments mentioned by opponents were that a paid holiday for federal employees would be too expensive and that a holiday to honor a private citizen would be contrary to longstanding tradition, as Martin Luther King never held public office. President Ronald Reagan, who was initially against the bill, signed the bill into law as proposed by Representative Katie Hall to create a federal holiday honoring Dr.King. The bill had passed the Senate by a count of 78 to 22, and the House of Representatives by 338 to 90. The holiday was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986. Dr. King knew he was going against the grain. He believed in his heart that everyone born was equal and by God’s law, enjoyed those rights no matter what. Let us read once again those forever glaring words of his final speech the night before he was murdered. “Well, I don’t know what will happen to me now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter what happens to me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” Fr. Roach
