All articles tagged with #mlk day
Thousands across the United States marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day with marches, wreath-laying ceremonies and commemorative services, reflecting the federal holiday’s nationwide observance.
Attorney General Ken Paxton releases a 74-page MLK Day opinion arguing that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are unconstitutional and uses it to directly attack Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas GOP primary. Legal experts say the opinion is not binding and cannot overturn laws, while critics call it a campaign tactic as Texas continues to bar DEI in state institutions. The piece frames the ruling within a broader Republican effort against DEI and notes potential chilling effects on state agencies and private employers ahead of the primary.
As Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed nationwide, activists including the Movement for Black Lives and civil-rights groups push a 'Reclaim MLK Day' agenda to center King’s radical legacy and ongoing calls for racial and economic justice, amid a political climate of DEI rollbacks under the Trump era and broad debates over King's message. Conservative voices urge focusing on character over race, while groups warn of heightened scrutiny and violence against communities of color. Some events, like Indiana University’s King Day dinner, have been canceled due to budgets and political pressure, though the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis goes ahead with free admission; the National Park Service changed free-entry policies for King Day and Juneteenth; and the White House has yet to comment. The episode comes amid incidents such as a fatal Minneapolis ICE shooting, underscoring ongoing civil rights tensions.
Most retailers plan regular hours on MLK Day 2026, with exceptions: mail delivery and USPS retail locations are closed; banks and the stock market are closed; check local hours for individual stores, as hours can vary by location.
Tom’s Guide rounds up a 39-item Amazon MLK Day weekend sale with discounts across many categories, from TVs starting at about $59 to Kindles up to 31% off, plus Apple devices, Lego sets, apparel, and kitchen gadgets, offering plenty of options to shop ahead of the holiday weekend.
’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ opened Friday to $5.6 million from 3,506 North American theaters to lead the box office and end Avatar: Fire and Ash’s four-week reign. The horror sequel is forecast to bring in about $15 million over the four-day MLK weekend; the film cost roughly $63 million to produce. The rest of the top five consisted of Avatar: Fire and Ash (No. 2), The Housemaid (No. 3), Zootopia 2 (No. 4), and Marty Supreme (No. 5). Avatar is still projected to log about $17 million for the MLK frame and approach $367 million domestic by Monday, while other holdovers continue their runs.
Governor Newsom announced free vehicle day-use entry on MLK Day 2026 at more than 200 California state parks, funded by the California State Parks Foundation, inviting all Californians to honor Dr. King. The move contrasts with the federal government under Trump, which ended MLK Day free-entry at National Parks and added Trump’s birthday to the pass program. California highlights ongoing access initiatives like the California State Library Parks Pass, Adventure Pass, Golden Bear Pass, and other programs to remove cost barriers and expand outdoor access ahead of Black History Month.
The NBA announced its 2025/26 season schedule, highlighting key opening week games, Christmas Day matchups, and a four-game MLK Day slate, featuring star players and historic matchups, with games broadcast on NBC, Peacock, ABC, and ESPN.
Denver tied a 94-year-old cold record on Monday with temperatures only reaching a high of 2 degrees, making it the coldest Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Denver history. The last time a high temperature this cold was recorded on Jan. 15 was in 1930. Although temperatures didn't break the 1888 record for the lowest-ever temperature, they dipped to 7 below zero, bringing extremely cold temperatures and dangerous wind chill to Colorado over the holiday weekend.
Comedian Tommy Davidson, along with Bob Duggan and Nancy Cartwright, celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Miami's MLK Memorial Park, where local food vendors, including student entrepreneur Miriam Jackson, honored civil rights activists by participating in the cookout, emphasizing that their efforts were not in vain.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will honor Martin Luther King Jr. and his family during their "Monday Night Football" game against the Philadelphia Eagles, with the King family serving as honorary team captains and participating in the coin toss. The Buccaneers will pay tribute to Dr. King's legacy throughout the game, and the NFL has featured "MLK" and "Be Love" decals on player helmets during wild-card weekend to coincide with MLK Day. The NFL has also pledged a five-year commitment to Realizing the Dream, a platform created by the King family.
Miami-Dade police have made over 100 arrests and impounded 58 vehicles ahead of the annual Wheels Up, Guns Down ride, with 20 firearms impounded and 554 citations issued. The ride-out, which typically takes place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, saw 48 arrests on Sunday alone and 144 total arrests since Friday. Law enforcement agencies are monitoring roads for violators, with a reminder that ATVs and dirt bikes are not allowed on highways, public roads, or streets.
MLK Day sales are offering discounts on a variety of products including tech, home goods, and more. Deals include savings on Apple Watch, cordless vacuums, laptops, coffee makers, and mattresses. Major retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Amazon are offering discounts, making it a good time to shop for home items and electronics.
Iowa Republicans are set to hold the first caucuses for the 2024 election season, with Donald Trump as the clear favorite, while MLK Day is being observed with events honoring Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. Meanwhile, Israel and Gaza mark 100 days since a deadly conflict, and NPR journalists provide coverage of the caucuses and MLK Day, as well as insights into King's radical views and the ongoing impact of his legacy.
Best Buy is celebrating MLK Day with a Member Deals Days sale, offering significant discounts on a wide range of products for Plus and Total subscribers, including tech items like MacBooks, Apple Watches, headphones, and big-screen televisions. Savings also extend to other categories such as laundry packages, fridges, exercise equipment, and more. These exclusive deals are available only to Plus and Total members and will last until Jan. 18.