Born: January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia; Died: April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee. Baptist Minister and Civil Rights Activist. Advocated for equality through non-violent civil disobedience, a style of activism inspired by his Christian Faith and the inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi. First President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). January 10, 1957 – April 4, 1968. Co-organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 1964. Co-organizer of the Selma to Montgomery marches, 1965. While planning the Poor People’s Campaign national occupation of Washington D.C. in 1968, Dr. King was assassinated. Posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. A federal holiday in his honor was established in 1986 by legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan.
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