Celebrating the Dream: 7 Interesting Facts About MLK Jr. Day

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Monday, January 15, 2018

A New Effort to Preserve History

President Trump signed a bill aboard Air Force One upgrading the birthplace of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to a national historic park. Trump signed the bill into law while in Atlanta, Georgia, alongside Dr. King's niece, Alveda King, and the civil rights leader's nephew, Isaac Newton Farris Jr., according to a statement from the White House, January 8, 2018. | (Photo: White House Photo/Shealah Craighead)

Days before this year's MLK Day observance, President Donald Trump signed the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park Act while aboard Air Force One with Alveda King, niece of Dr. King, in attendance.

The new law upgrades the status of Dr. King's home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and King's burial site from "national historic site" to "national historic park."

Democratic Representative John Lewis of Georgia, sponsor of the bill who has been a big critic of Trump, said in a statement released Jan. 8 that he was happy with the across-the-aisle support for the measure.

"I am so proud that we were able to work in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to establish Georgia's first National Historical Park in Dr. King's name and legacy before what would be his 89th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his tragic assassination," stated Rep. Lewis.

"I hope that this moment will serve as a reminder of the constant work to realize Dr. King's dream of building the Beloved Community — a community at peace with itself and our neighbors."