Since 1986, Americans have celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the third Monday of January.

Dr. King is known throughout the world as one of the main spiritual and physical leaders of the African-American Civil Rights Movement in the United States throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Known for his tactic of nonviolent civil disobedience, Dr. King helped bring national attention to the brutality imposed upon African Americans throughout the United States, particularly in the South, as a result of then-lawful racial segregation policies.

Leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and later delivering his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the National Mall during the 1963 March on Washington, Dr. King became the youngest recipient of the heralded Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. In his remarks after receiving the award, Dr. King famously said:

“Freedom is one thing. You have it all or you are not free.”

Today at City Cruises New York, we thank and remember Dr. King for his selfless devotion to progressing racial equality through peaceful means in the United States, and for his many sacrifices to ensure that all men and women of every generation have the opportunity to live freely and in harmony with one another.

Check Out These MLK Day Events in New York City:

Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We honor Dr. King’s radical spirit at this beloved Brooklyn tradition, which rings in a new year with musical performances and an invigorating call to action. with speakers who offer reflections on freedom anchored in his journey, his enduring commitment to social justice, and his work to radically transform access to literature in prison. This will be followed by uplifting musical performances.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Historic Harlem Walking Tour

Learn about New York’s links to the civil rights movement on a Historic Harlem Walking Tour. The tour is primarily centered on the life and times of Dr. King, but will also showcase his associations with his Harlem contemporaries, such as Malcolm X and Dr, Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Harlem tour guide will be equipped with portable audio and video devices used to bring the heritage to life, imagine watching and listening to historic Dr. King speeches at the sights where history happened, 1960’s music soundtrack will play between historic stops as you walk, the heritage will truly come to life.

MLK Day 5K Run- Let Freedom Run

For even more MLK Day events in the New York area, visit here.

Original Post Date: February 28, 2019