Arizona Enacts Law to Establish Dr. King Holiday
PHOENIX — Gov. Rose Mofford signed legislation Wednesday designating a paid holiday for state employees to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., just hours after the Arizona House passed it.
The late-afternoon signing of the bill culminated a 15-year political struggle over a King holiday. Earlier in the day, the House passed the bill, 35 to 25.
Former Gov. Bruce Babbitt, a Democrat, proclaimed a day honoring the late civil rights leader in 1986. His successor, Republican Evan Mecham, rescinded the order before it was to have taken effect and the ensuing uproar led to protest marches, boycotts and cancellations of conventions in the state.
The new law designates the third Monday of January to be observed as Martin Luther King-Civil Rights Day. It repeals an earlier measure that substituted a King Day for Columbus Day on the state’s calendar of paid holidays.
Because it also cancels a November referendum on the issue, the law is likely to touch off a drive to put the matter to a popular vote.
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