MLK Day: Life and legacy of civil rights icon (34 images)

By UPI Staff

Americans observe the holiday dedicated to civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. every January near his birthdate: January 15, 1929. This year, the holiday falls on Monday. King was assassinated in 1968. Here is a look back at his life and previous celebrations of his legacy.

King (L) holds a news conference in Chicago with Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk from Vietnam, on May 31, 1966. Thanh's visit to the United States was sponsored by the International Committee of Conscience on Vietnam, working for peace. King is one of the conveners of the committee. UPI File Photo

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Chciago: Elijah Muhammed, (L) head of the Black muslims, meets with Rev. Martin Luther King to discuss slum conditions in Chicago. The meeting was held in Muhammad's home. Dr. King tolds newsmen that he expected to outline the purposes of his current nonviolent cvil rights movement in Chicago during his visit with Muhammad. (UPI Photo)

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King (R) confers with Albert Raby, Chicago civil rights leader and head of the Coordinating Council of Community Organizations, at the National Council of Churches resort camp on October 8, 1965. UPI File Photo

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President George W. Bush speaks during a ceremony honoring King in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 21, 2002. The White House was given a portrait of King from his family. King's daughter Bernice and son Martin Luther King III flank the portrait. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI

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