America observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on the third Monday in January. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. contributed greatly to the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He organized numerous nonviolent demonstrations and protested against the unfair treatment of African-Americans. Despite his peaceful approach, he was often chastised and imprisoned for his efforts. Martin Luther King, Jr. helped organize the 1963 March on Washington where over 200,000 people gathered in Washington D.C. in support of laws that would provide equal treatment to people of all races. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act one year later. This act guarantees equal housing, voting, and education rights to all Americans. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968 but his nonviolent legacy lives on. Today on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, people in over a hundred nations attend memorial services, volunteer in their communities, and enjoy special television and radio shows that commemorate his courage, his struggles, and his accomplishments. The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia holds a variety of events on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Community members celebrate King’s life through a parade, an orchestra concert, and memorial services.