Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience, King has become a national icon in the history of American progressivism.
A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.
On October 14, 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986. University offices will be closed Monday, January 21 in observance of this holiday.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
For more information on UNL events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Week January 13-20, visit: http://mlkweek.unl.edu/