A day after what would have been his father’s 83rd birthday, Martin Luther King III has announced that he is stepping down as president of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, an Atlanta-based center devoted to the legacy of his father.

Announced on Tuesday, the resignation of Dr. King’s eldest son comes on the heels of a Jan. 9 announcement of a major center overhaul that kept King as president, but replaced him as chief executive with his sister, Bernice.

It also comes just one day after President Obama commemorated the life and career of King’s legendary father on what has become known as the national day of service.  

Although King is stepping down as president, he says that he will continue to be an active member of the board.

“I will be devoting my primary future efforts towards launching a new organization that will focus on supporting a new generation of young 'drum majors for justice' worldwide to expand my commitment to the Kingian principles of nonviolence, social justice, and human rights,” King said in a resignation statement.

King also stated that he will announce further details in the coming weeks.

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(Photo: Tami Chappell/Landov)