Martin Luther King’s own family also honoured him on his 83 birthday in Washington D.C’s National Mall one day before the actual day. On Sunday, Martin Luther King III laid a wreath for his father and spoke to the gathered group. According to dailymail.com, he said, “He wanted to bring together poor blacks and whites and Native Americans and Americans from all walks of life, to say to our nation's policymakers, that we really demand the right to decent jobs with decent pay.” The large memorial that opened in August 2011 has a big stone statue of the King with the words ‘out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope’ etched on its side. According to the King Memorial Foundation, more than 2 million people have paid visit till date. His great granddaughter, Yalanda Renee King was seeing on Sunday pressing her hand on the statue.

Hollywood also remembered the King in their way. Some did charity work and others tweeted about the heroism of the man, who will be honoured and respected for his works for his fellowmen. Glee star Amber Riley tweeted, “Thank you Martin Luther King Jr, you struggled so my fight would be easier. I wish you were living to see all we have accomplished.” Mike Tyson also wrote, “At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.’ - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Happy MLK Day. Stay blessed.” Some even quoted the dream speech.

The occupy protestors in New York, on the other hand was seen honouring the man, while fighting their own battle. Protestors aimed to light candle at 7 pm in every time zone from California to Cairo, New York to New Orleans, Germany to Nova Scotia. In New York, hundreds of white candles were lit, while protestors gathered on the steps of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine to begin a march to the nearby Riverside Church, where the civil rights leader gave his epic, 'Beyond Vietnam' speech in 1967. They were also holding huge banners with the King’s picture as well as ‘occupy Wall street.’