History of AFL-CIO's Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s effort to bring together the civil rights and labor movements was central to building a successful coalition in support of economic and racial justice. The AFL-CIO was a partner in that historic fight. 

The AFL-CIO actively supported the effort to establish the federal holiday honoring Dr. King. Shortly after Congress passed the legislation creating it, the AFL-CIO formed a labor committee to explore ways to honor his legacy. The federation, working with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, decided to do so by hosting annual observances. 

What started as a yearly tribute grew into a multiday conference of learning, fellowship and celebration of the work Dr. King inspired. For 30 years, the AFL-CIO has marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day by bringing together hundreds to thousands of trade unionists to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, and the movement his work sparked. Through fellowship and coalition, we build our movement, examine the civil and human rights issues of our time, strategize for progress, and serve our communities.

Since 1998, the AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference has been held in cities across the country. It reinforces the longstanding bond between the labor and civil rights movements, honors Dr. King’s vision of collective action, and calls participants to carry his dream forward—sharpening the tools we need to organize and win, whether at the voting booth or in the workplace.

We are United by the Dream!
 

Previous Conferences

Below is the list of cities that have hosted the Dr. King holiday observance since 1998: