STATE

Inauguration Day and MLK Day fall on the same day. Here's what Illinoisans should know

Portrait of Tom Ackerman Tom Ackerman
Springfield State Journal- Register

President-elect Donald Trump will return to the White House this coming Monday. That day also happens to be MLK Day.

Here’s what you need to know for the day in Illinois.

When is Inauguration Day?

The inauguration is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 20. It will take place at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

What happens at the Inauguration?

The president-elect and the vice-president-elect are sworn in and take office. The day marks the swearing-in ceremony, the inaugural address, and the pass in review.

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Is Inauguration Day a federal holiday?

Federal employees in the Washington D.C. area are entitled to a holiday on this day, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The holiday is given to reduce traffic and facilitate local attendance at the ceremony.

What about MLK Day? Is it a federal holiday?

Yes, MLK Day is a holiday for federal employees. The holiday is observed on the third Monday of January annually.

What is MLK Jr. Day?

MLK Day celebrates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. who advocated for Civil Rights reforms in the 1960s in the U.S.

The day became federally recognized nearly 20 years after King's assassination in 1968. By the year 2000, all 50 states recognized the holiday, USA Today reported.

MLK Day is designated as a national day of service when Americans are encouraged to volunteer to improve their communities, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture.

The Washington Monument can be seen in the background as U.S. civil rights leader Martin Luther King waves to supporters Aug. 28 1963 on the Mall in Washington DC during the "March on Washington", where King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The speech which mobilized supporters of desegregation and prompted the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Schools

Most schools across the state will not hold class, but it is up to the school districts to determine if classes are held.

State and city offices

State of Illinois offices and courts will be closed. City offices will also be closed.

Federal facilities

U.S. federal offices and courts are closed Monday.

Lincoln Presidential Library

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will host events on the holiday including a reading of King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the museum’s main plaza. Actor Reggie Guyton will be performing the speech.

The museum will also host a blood drive outside of the museum. The ImpactLife Blood Mobile will be parked in front of the museum entrance from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Lastly, a string quartet will play music specifically written for the special exhibit, “Freedom in Form: Richard Hunt.” The quartet will perform at the exhibit from 1 to 3 p.m.

“Hunt’s sculptures include a monument to King, and much of his work was inspired by the civil rights movement and the struggles of African Americans,” according to a press release.

The museum and library will additionally be open during their regular hours on the holiday.

Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.