Monday marks the 25th federal observance of King's birthday
(AP) -- Several events were taking place across Atlanta Monday to recognize one of the city's most celebrated native sons, civil rights icon the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Princeton University scholar Cornel West delivered a passionate keynote address at a special ceremony at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King preached from 1960 until his death in 1968. He told the crowd to remember King's call to help others and not simply enshrine his legacy in "some distant museum."
A commemorative march and rally were also planned. Monday marks the 25th federal observance of King's birthday.
The civil rights icon and 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner is the only black American whose birthday is a national holiday.
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