U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) released the following statement in celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who’s birthday is being recognized today (Monday, January 15) as a Federal holiday.
“Dr. King was undeniably an American hero. His passion, his blood, sweat, and tears, and his ultimate sacrifice are forever an integral part of our country’s history.
“He taught us about the strength to love in the face of hate, saying ‘darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.’ He showed us resilience in the face of adversity and injustice by working every single day for equality and unity. He used his faith to remain hopeful that one day, children of color would be able to achieve their dreams.
“Because of Dr. King’s unending quest for justice, our American family is better off. Today, nearly 50 years after his death, we should continue to live out his legacy every single day.“
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (officially the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.) is a federal marking the birthday of Dr. King. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around King’s birthday, January 15. King was the chief spokesperson nonviolent activism in civil rights movement in the 1960s, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed three years later. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.
