Mlk Day: Arizona's Law And History

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, often referred to as MLK Day, is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on the third Monday of January. While the holiday was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, Arizona was one of the last states to recognize it. The journey towards making MLK Day a state holiday in Arizona was a long and contentious one, marked by political infighting, boycotts, and ballot measures.

Arizona's rocky history with MLK Day

In 1986, there was an Arizona house bill to create an MLK holiday. The bill would have created the MLK holiday by combining the existing state holidays for Washington and Lincoln into a President's day. This bill was defeated by one vote. After this bill was defeated, the issue of the MLK holiday in Arizona became emotional. Nine days after the MLK holiday bill was defeated in 1986, Governor Bruce Babbitt issued an executive order creating a paid MLK holiday.

When Evan Mecham became governor in 1987, he immediately rescinded the MLK holiday, claiming that the holiday was illegally created. Mecham offered a Civil Rights Day that would be observed on a Sunday, but this was unpaid. Mecham's actions aroused national condemnation.

There were drives to put the MLK holiday up to a public vote. As a result, there were two separate propositions for an MLK holiday in the 1990 statewide election. Proposition 301 eliminated Columbus Day as a paid state holiday and substituted MLK Day. Proposition 302 added MLK Day as an additional paid state holiday. Neither proposition passed.

After the MLK holiday vote failed in 1990, Arizona received a lot of criticism. Conferences, conventions, and other groups boycotted Arizona. The National Football League (NFL) disqualified Phoenix as the host city for the 1993 Super Bowl game, which cost the state an estimated $200 million in revenue.

In November 1992, voters passed an MLK Civil Rights Day holiday, making Arizona the last state in the union to formally install an MLK holiday. Arizona was the only state to approve the MLK holiday by popular affirmation.

Governor Bruce Babbitt's executive order

The executive order was met with controversy. Babbitt's successor, Governor Evan Mecham, rescinded the order days after taking office in 1987, citing an attorney general's opinion that Babbitt's order was illegal. Mecham instead proclaimed the third Sunday in January to be "Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day" in Arizona, albeit as an unpaid holiday. This proposal was rejected by the state Senate the following year.

The controversy surrounding Babbitt and Mecham's opposing actions resulted in boycotts of Arizona, including from Stevie Wonder and Rev. Jesse Jackson. The National Football League also stripped Phoenix of its rights to host the 1993 Super Bowl, which cost the city a projected $200 million in revenue.

Governor Evan Mecham's rescinding of the holiday

Governor Evan Mecham's rescinding of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in Arizona caused controversy and backlash from politicians, activists, and citizens. Mecham, who took office in 1987, had campaigned on the promise to cancel the paid holiday for state employees, fulfilling this pledge days after his inauguration.

The holiday had been established by Mecham's predecessor, Governor Bruce Babbitt, in May 1986, through an executive order. However, the state legislature had previously voted against creating the holiday, and the state Attorney General's office opined that Babbitt's order was illegal, threatening to sue over the cost. Despite these legal concerns, Mecham's decision attracted widespread criticism, including from civil rights activists and the black community. In response to the backlash, Mecham infamously remarked, "King doesn't deserve a holiday," and told a group of black community leaders, "You folks don't need another holiday. What you folks need are jobs."

Mecham's actions sparked protests, including a march to the state capital on what would have been the MLK holiday in 1987. Stevie Wonder, Harlan Ellison, and Rev. Jesse Jackson announced boycotts of the state, and conventions scheduled to take place in Arizona were canceled. The controversy also led to economic repercussions, with the National Football League (NFL) stripping Phoenix of its rights to host the 1993 Super Bowl, resulting in a significant loss of revenue for the state.

In an attempt to address the growing criticism, Mecham later declared the third Sunday in January to be "Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day" in Arizona, but as an unpaid holiday. This proposal was rejected by the state Senate. It wasn't until 1992 that Arizona voters finally approved a paid MLK holiday, making Arizona the last state in the union to formally recognize the day.

The economic impact of Arizona's decision

In 1983, Arizona became the first state in the union to officially recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday. This decision had a significant economic impact on the state, both immediately and in the years that followed. The state's economy benefited from increased tourism and business investment, but it also faced challenges due to the initial controversy surrounding the decision.

The immediate economic impact was felt in the form of increased tourism and revenue for the state. Arizona's unique position as the first state to recognize the holiday attracted national attention and brought in tourists and civil rights supporters from across the country. This influx of visitors boosted the state's economy, particularly in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Hotels, restaurants, and attractions saw increased business as people traveled to Arizona specifically to participate in MLK Day celebrations and events.

The decision also had a positive impact on Arizona's business and investment climate. Many companies and corporations viewed the state's recognition of MLK Day as a sign of progressiveness and social responsibility. This enhanced Arizona's reputation as a forward-thinking and inclusive state, making it an attractive location for business expansion and investment. Several major companies chose to relocate or expand their operations in Arizona, bringing with them new jobs and economic opportunities for the state's residents.

However, the decision to recognize MLK Day in Arizona was not without controversy. There was significant opposition from those who felt that the day honored a controversial figure and that the cost of implementing a new paid holiday would be detrimental to the state's economy. This controversy led to a boycott of Arizona by several civil rights groups and organizations, which had economic repercussions. During the boycott, some conventions and events were canceled, and there was a decrease in tourism and revenue for a brief period.

In the long run, however, Arizona's decision proved to be economically beneficial. The state successfully attracted new businesses and investments, and the tourism industry continued to thrive. Additionally, the recognition of MLK Day helped foster a more inclusive and diverse environment, which further enhanced Arizona's reputation and appeal to a wide range of businesses and visitors.

The road to recognition

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed into law a bill that created a national holiday to honor King, who is known as one of the most famous civil rights leaders in history. However, Arizona was not one of the states that immediately established a holiday to honor King. In 1986, an Arizona house bill to create a King holiday was defeated by one vote. This bill would have created a paid holiday by combining the existing state holidays for Washington and Lincoln into a President's Day.

Nine days after the bill was defeated, Governor Bruce Babbitt issued an executive order creating a paid King holiday. However, when Evan Mecham became governor in 1987, he immediately rescinded the holiday, claiming that Babbitt's order was illegal. Mecham instead offered an unpaid Civil Rights Day to be observed on a Sunday. This decision aroused national condemnation and boycotts from major artists, costing the state millions in potential investments.

There were drives to put the King holiday to a public vote, and in the 1990 statewide election, two separate propositions for a King holiday were on the ballot. Proposition 301 would have eliminated Columbus Day as a paid holiday and replaced it with King Day, while Proposition 302 would have added King Day as an additional paid holiday. Neither proposition passed, and Arizona once again found itself in the national spotlight for its handling of the issue.

The National Football League (NFL) stripped Phoenix of its rights to host the 1993 Super Bowl due to the state's failure to pass a King holiday. This decision cost Phoenix an estimated $200 million in revenue. Finally, in November 1992, Arizona voters approved a King holiday, making it the last state in the union to formally install such a holiday. The NFL returned the Super Bowl to Arizona in 1996, after voters passed the law.

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