Remembering and Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister, activist, spokesman and leader for the American Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. His impact still lives on today.

His most notable and famous speech, where he stood in front of 250,000 supporters in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963, is “I Have a Dream.” In it, he spoke about his dream of abolishing all racism and segregation in the United States. Listen to and/or read the full speech here.

In 1957, in Montgomery, Alabama, he said to an audience: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' Today, it is a reminder of the importance of serving those in our communities, and on Monday, January 16, we honor the man who dedicated his life in service to others.”

Observed annually on the third Monday in January in the United States, Martin Luther King Jr. (or MLK) Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service—a “day on, not a day off”—to encourage all Americans to volunteer to help provide meaningful change in their communities while celebrating the civil rights leader’s life and legacy.

Service takes on all forms – such as cleaning up a public space, volunteering at a senior center, helping those who are food insecure, or donating to a charitable cause to help those who lack basic essentials—and ultimately builds a sense of community.

Hertz employees have a history of giving back—always stepping in to help each other and the communities in which we live and work. In the last year alone, we witnessed such generosity in supporting fellow colleagues through the Hertz Employee Relief Fund and going above and beyond for those impacted by Hurricane Ian in Florida, as well as strengthening our communities through donations and volunteerism with the Boys and Girls Club.

On MLK Day, we can honor his legacy by spending the day serving our communities – and asking ourselves what we are doing for others.