What's Open, Closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day in Foxborough

Monday, Jan. 21 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

For some, the national holiday honoring the prominent civil rights activist is a time to give back and serve the community, be it through removing graffiti or picking up litter in a local park.

For others, it’s an opportunity to educate themselves about King and his life's work. And for others, it’s a time to just kick back and enjoy the prolonged weekend.

The Holiday's History

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, now a U.S. holiday, took 15 years to create.

Legislation was first proposed by Congressman John Conyers (D-Michigan) four days after King was assassinated in 1968.

The bill was stalled, but Conyers, along with Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-New York), pushed for the holiday every legislative session until it was finally passed in 1983, following civil rights marches in Washington. 

Then-president Ronald Reagan signed it into law.

Yet it was not until 2000 that every U.S. state celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day by its name. Before then, states like Utah referred to the holiday more broadly as Human Rights Day. 

Now, the Corporation for National and Community Service has declared it an official U.S. Day of Service.

Here's a quick look at what will be open and closed in Foxborough. Please leave a comment if you have something to add to the list!

OPEN

• Stop & Shop
• Trader Joe’s
• Patriot Place retail (at owner’s discretion)
• Convenience stores (at owner’s discretion)
• Liquor stores (at owner’s discretion)
• Bars (at owner’s discretion)

CLOSED

• Banks (most are closed)
• Foxborough town offices
• State offices
• Federal offices
• Post office/mail
• Boyden Library
• Foxborough Public Schools
• Foxborough Regional Charter School
• The Sage School