Martin Luther King Day

Though Martin Luther King Day is now recognized in all 50 states it certainly got off to a rocky start.

MLK Holiday Timeline

1968


Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated; Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., introduces legislation for federal holiday to commemorate King

1973
Illinois is first state to adopt MLK Day as a state holiday

1983
Congress passes, President Reagan signs, legislation creating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

1986
Federal MLK holiday goes into effect

1987
Arizona governor Evan Mecham rescinds MLK Day as his first act in office, setting off a boycott of the state.

1989
State MLK holiday adopted in 44 states

1991
The NFL moves the 1993 Super Bowl site from Phoenix, Ariz., to Pasadena, Calif., because of the MLK Day boycott.

1992
Arizona citizens vote to enact MLK Day. The Super Bowl is held in Tempe, Ariz. in 1996.

1993
For the first time, MLK Day is held in some format sometimes under a different name, and not always as a paid state holiday in all fifty states.

1999
New Hampshire becomes the last state to adopt MLK Day as a paid state holiday, replacing its optional Civil Rights Day.

2000
Utah becomes the last state to recognize MLK Day by name, renaming its Human Rights Day state holiday.

South Carolina becomes the last state to make MLK Day a paid holiday for all state employees. Until now, employees could choose between celebrating it or one of three Confederate-related holidays.

WICOMICO COUNTY: Martin Luther King Banquet at the Wicomico Civic Center tonight at 6:30PM. Tickets are $35.00 and tickets can be obtained by calling Mr. Marion Barkley at 410-742-2482 There were still tickets yesterday, however they will be wrapping it up today and tickets can not be obtained at the door to my knowledge.