The U.S. Embassy and Consular Section were closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday honoring the late civil rights leader.

The embassy, located in Pavas Canton, San José, will resume normal operations on Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Observed annually on the third Monday of January, the holiday commemorates King’s legacy as a leading figure in the U.S. civil rights movement. King led nonviolent protests against racial segregation and worked to advance Black equality and voting rights throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

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A Baptist minister, activist and political thinker, King emerged as a central voice for social justice before his assassination in 1968. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Oct. 14, 1964, in recognition of his commitment to nonviolent resistance to racial inequality. In later years, he broadened his advocacy to address poverty and to oppose the Vietnam War.

King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. His death prompted nationwide mourning and sparked riots in several U.S. cities.

In recognition of his enduring impact, King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2003.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, located in West Potomac Park near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., stands as a national tribute to his life and legacy.

Across the United States, Americans honor King’s memory with parades, prayer services and community service events.

In related news, U.S. Ambassador Melinda Hildebrand formally assumed her duties recently after presenting her letters of credence to President Rodrigo Chaves Robles.

The United States established diplomatic relations with Costa Rica in 1851, following Costa Rica’s independence and the dissolution of the Central American federation.

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If the Rev. King were alive today, what would he be most proud to see in the United States? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com