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The date Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated from his balcony in the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.
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Congressman John Conyers of Michigan proposed a national commemorative holiday to honor the efforts and life of Martin Luther King Jr.
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The holiday was proposed at every legislative session and petitions with 6+ million names were sent in to congress endorsing the holiday.
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The House of Representatives passed the bill proposing the MLK Jr. holiday.
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The Senate approved the legislation for the MLK Jr. holiday.
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The holiday legislation bill was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on this day.
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The first nationwide observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Many places still did not recognize it as a true holiday.