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Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Date: 3rd Monday in January
Martin Luther King Jr. was perhaps the
most memorable civil rights figure in America. His presence, and
stirring speeches, placed him directly between the two sides opposing
and promoting racial equality in America. Spiritually and physically,
he filled the role of peacemaker, becoming as respected by some, as he
was hated by others. Dr. King's remarkable personal mission to unite
the country, came to an end with his assassination in April of 1968.
The day to honor his memory and mission,
had a rocky road to becoming a national event officially countenanced
by the government. Congressman John Conyers was the first to put forth
the idea, just days after King's assassination. Emotion was running
high at the time, and it gained momentum but ended up stalled in
processing. Immediately, the Congress was flooded with six million
names on petitions, but to no avail. Conyers and two other congressmen
kept submitting the bill, session after session.
By 1982, when civil rights marches on Washington were becoming a
political time bomb, the pressure finally paid off. Congress passed
the proposed bill for a Martin Luther King Jr. day, which was then
duly signed by president Ronald Reagan.
At the root of the difficulties, were the fact that many people felt
the day should honor all civil rights leaders, pioneers, and central
figures, not just their highest profile one. Some states refused to
acknowledge it. Arizona was the most vocal, going so far as to rescind
the holiday in 1987. That move brought on not only a tourism boycott,
but other notable reactions, including having the NFL take the Super
Bowl Game away from Phoenix. Other states used the title Civil Rights
Day, while accepting the date and the fact that it was a paid holiday.
Not until 1993 would it be celebrated by all 50 contiguous United
States, under one name or another.
Utah was the final holdout on the name, changing over in 2000, while
South Carolina was the last state to make it a paid holiday for their
employees, in the same year. Martin Luther King Jr. day is held the
third Monday in January, to draw it away from the holiday
celebrations, and still have it remain close to King's birthday,
January 15.
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