January 19 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. For some, it may mean a day off from school or a day off from work for this government holiday. But, for everyone it means taking a moment to truly appreciate the love and understanding that Dr. King evoked from a separatist society. He brought love to the forefront of the civil rights movement. King spoke eloquently on love rising above all: “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

So while you’re getting errands done on your day off, be sure to take a silent moment to meditate on the freedom that Martin Luther King, Jr. and his followers fought for. Here are some quick facts about the civil rights movement and its leader, Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day is always observed on the third Monday of every January. The date was chosen to be around the time of Dr. King’s birthday, January 15.
• Dr. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968 and President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983. It was officially observed in all 50 states in 2000.
• He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white bus rider.
• King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, the same year that the Civil Rights Act was passed.
• King was named after the historic German religious reformer, Martin Luther.
• Among many of his famous speeches and literature, King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and “I Have A Dream” speech are his most notable and most frequently taught.