The nation is observing Martin Luther King Junior Day today.
Today , January 15th is King’s 95th birthday anniversary.
King became nationally known for his Civil Rights work in the 1950’s when he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
It was a political and social protest against racial segregation in the Montgomery, Alabama public transportation system.
It lasted for a year and ended with a US Supreme Court decision declaring the segregation unconstitutional.
King visited Indiana many times and according to indianahistory.org his most famous visit was in Indianapolis on Dec. 12, 1958.
King came to speak at the Senate Avenue YMCA Monster Meeting.
Such meetings started in the early 1900’s as Evangelical events which expanded from not only focusing on religious Black America but also social, political and economic issues.
The meeting was to be held at the north side YMCA in Indy, but due to King’s popularity, the meeting was moved to Cadle Tabernacle, formerly located downtown.
More than 4,000 people attended.
Ten years later, when King was assassinated, many Hoosiers first heard the news from the lips of Presidential Candidate Robert Kennedy who was set to give a campaign speech in Indianapolis.
The state capital was spared the riots seen in many major US cities after King was killed.
Many believe it was because of Kennedy’s words calling for peace and not hatred.
Today is a federal holiday with no mail delivery and government offices are closed.
Locally the Vincennes State Historic Sites are offering free admission today in honor of the day.
Attractions include The Original Territorial Capitol Building, The French House, Jefferson Academy, the Elihu Stout Print Shop, the Fort Knox II site, Sugar Loaf Mound, and the Old State Bank.
The sites are open 10 to 5-pm.
Vincennes University will recognize the day this Thursday, the 18th with a walk to remember the 1963 March on Washington meant to initiate a civil rights bill in Congress.
It will start at 11 am at the Jefferson Student Union on the VU campus.
