Thousands of Americans came out to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, the federal holiday honoring the civil rights leader. King, who was gunned down in Memphis in 1968 as he advocated for better pay and working conditions for the city’s sanitation workers, would have celebrated his 94th birthday Sunday. Multiple cities and towns across the U.S. began honoring his birthday soon after his assassination. Former President Ronald Reagan declared a federal holiday for the civil rights leader in 1983; it was enacted in 1986. On Monday, King’s youngest daughter said the nation still hasn’t fully embraced and acted on the lessons from her father. The Rev. Bernice King, who leads The King Center in Atlanta, said leaders — especially politicians — too often cheapen her father’s legacy into a “comfortable and convenient King” offering easy platitudes. Tap the link on bio to see more photos of the commemorations around the nation on MLK Day. 📸: USA TODAY Network, @afpphoto via @gettyimages, @apnews