[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9977 of January 17, 2020
Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 2020
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On August 28, 1963, nearly a quarter of a million people gathered in the
August heat on the National Mall in Washington, DC, to hear the Reverend
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., speak. People traveled to our Nation's
Capital from places as far away as Atlanta and Los Angeles to witness
one of the defining moments in American history. On the steps of the
Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King articulated the founding dream of America,
the vision of our Founders for all Americans to live as ``an heir of the
legacy of dignity and worth.''; Today, we pause to honor the incredible
life and accomplishments of Dr. King, who helped shape the Civil Rights
Movement, gave hope to millions experiencing discrimination, and whose
enduring memory inspires us to pursue a more just and equal society.
Dr. King dedicated his life's work to fighting for the right of every
American to achieve the American Dream. Born the son of a Baptist
minister on Auburn Street in Atlanta, Dr. King became an American icon
and hero to millions of freedom-loving peoples everywhere, propelled by
his powerful and inspiring message of peaceful protest and nonviolent
resistance. From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before

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thousands to the quiet solitude of a jail cell in Birmingham, Dr. King
evinced an unshakable commitment to create a better future, never
relenting in his quest for justice.
Since its inception, our Nation has served as a beacon of hope and
opportunity around the world. America's promise of freedom and justice
has guided our people through adversity to prosperity. Dr. King's life
and legacy stands as a testament to that promise, one rooted in the
inalienable rights of mankind and a commitment to freedom from
persecution. Throughout his battle against segregation and
discrimination, Dr. King praised his fellow demonstrators for returning
``back to the deep wells of democracy''; that trace their roots to our
founding. We honor Dr. King's legacy and our Nation's heritage when we
act to protect and expand freedom and opportunity.
As President, I remain committed to safeguarding the promise of our
Nation and the values we share, the values that Dr. King so ardently
worked to achieve. My Administration works each day to ensure that all
Americans have every opportunity to realize a better life for themselves
and their families regardless of race, class, gender, or any other
barriers that have arbitrarily stood in their way. We have seen historic
economic growth, with more than 7 million new jobs since my election and
record highs in African-American, Hispanic-American, and Asian-American
employment. Through a focused effort of deregulation and growth-oriented
policies, we have unleashed the potential of the American economy and
bolstered the strength of the greatest workforce in the world, the
American workforce. We recognize that economic opportunity is the
greatest engine for empowering individuals and families to overcome
adversity, and we will continue to fight for opportunity for all
Americans.
On this day, we are reminded of what Dr. King described as ``our noble
capacity for justice and love and brotherhood.''; As we pay tribute to
Dr. King, I urge all Americans to heed his call to action so that we may
build the ``Beloved Community''; that he envisioned, living up to the
sacred promise for a better future woven into the fabric of our American
identity.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 20, 2020, as
the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. On this day, I encourage
all Americans to recommit themselves to Dr. King's dream by engaging in
acts of service to others, to their community, and to our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of
January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
fourth.
DONALD J. TRUMP