Leaders: time to separate MLK, Lee holidays
Leaders: time to separate MLK, Lee holidays
Arkansas one of only a few states still honoring Confederate general
www.arkansasnews.com LITTLE ROCK — At events in Arkansas’ capital celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, speakers called for an end to the state’s practice of commemorating King and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee with a single state holiday.
Some called for the change to come sooner than others.
“I believe (King) deserves a separate day of recognition because he inspired a nation in his lifetime, and after his death his life continues to inspire, teach and cause us to think. He causes us to think about fairness, about justice, about responsibility and service,” Governor Asa Hutchinson said during an interfaith prayer breakfast at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Hutchinson has said previously he wants the Legislature to act during the 2017 regular session to separate the observances for King and Lee and make the third Monday in January a state holiday honoring King alone.
Hutchinson has said he plans to call a special session in the spring to address the future of the state’s Medicaid program and possibly consider new funding sources for highway needs. Rev. Arthur Hunt, pastor of Hunt Memorial Cathedral of Faith in Dumas, said the Legislature should separate the observances during the special session.
Arkansas has observed Robert E. Lee Day since 1947 and Martin Luther King Jr. Day since 1983.
The holidays were combined in 1985. Two other states, Alabama and Mississippi, honor both men on the same day.
The ceremony at the Capitol followed the NAACP’s annual Marade, a combination march and parade honoring King.
Later Monday, Cornell William Brooks, national president and CEO of the NAACP, was scheduled to arrive in Little Rock and attend a reception sponsored by the local branch.
Other elected officials who spoke at the Martin Luther King Jr.
Commission’s prayer breakfast included U.S.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; U.S. Rep. French Hill, RLittle Rock; Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin; Attorney General Leslie Rutledge; Senate President Pro Tem Jonathan Dismang, RBeebe; House Speaker Jeremy Gillam, RJudsonia; and Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola.
The breakfast kicked off Mega Kingfest 2016, a day of activities that was scheduled to include a speech by Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi; a performance by comedian Marlon Wayans; and community clean-up projects across the city.
From the Arkansas News Bureau
