Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2025

Martin Luther King Jr. is best known for his work advocating for civil rights. As the chair of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, King delivered his powerful speech, “I Have a Dream,” standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on August 28, 1963. In that speech, King recounted the long history of racial oppression borne by Blacks and called on each of us to hold ourselves and this country accountable, asking us “not to return to business as usual”. Hear the full speech below and learn more about some of the events planned to acknowledge Martin Luther King and his work.

Also, the NorcalMLK Foundation is looking for volunteer ushers, guides, photographers and journalists for MLK day events staring now. Below the video, read an article by parishioner Maureen Conway, St. Ignatius Parish Anti-Racism Committee (ARC).

by Maureen Conway, parishioner and member, St. Ignatius Parish Anti-Racism Committee (ARC)

Martin Luther King advocated for non-violent resistance and civil-disobedience to overcome racial oppression and systemic discrimination. Despite the non-violent nature of his actions, he was jailed 29 times. Martin Luther King wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (1963) while incarcerated. The open letter was written after eight Alabama clergymen criticized civil-disobedience and advocated patience, saying the gross racial injustice of segregation should be fought in the courts. King responded by saying that we have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws rather than simply waiting for justice through a slow-moving court system. The letter also contains the famous exhortation “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

Following his “Letter from Birmingham Jail and his “I Have a Dream” speech, King collaborated with Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson to ensure the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. King's activism and public pressure pushed Kennedy to take more significant action towards racial equality, and following Kennedy's death, Johnson actively sought King's support and worked closely with him to pass the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for leading nonviolent resistance to racial prejudice in the US. He was the youngest person to receive that award, but his life and work were cut short. After attending a protest supporting sanitation workers in Memphis, he was assassinated by James Earl Ray while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, across the street from a fire house where he was being surveilled by police. King wanted to be remembered for “giving his life serving others,” and he is. 

In that spirit, we celebrate Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 20, acknowledging his work, ideals and legacy with a day of service. On this day we are encouraged to come together and volunteer within our communities to improve the places where we live and work. On this day let’s reach out and help someone in need and not “return to business as usual”. Learn more about some of the events planned to acknowledge Martin Luther King and his work.

Finally, let’s remember Martin Luther King with not only a day of service, but by making racial justice an ongoing part of our lives, just as Martin Luther King did.