Arizona 47th State to Honor Dr. King With Holiday

Legislation making Arizona the 47th state to honor slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a state holiday was signed Friday night by Gov. Rose Mofford.

“Today, we can stand tall in the knowledge we have done the right thing,” Mofford told about 300 people during a public signing ceremony in the Capitol Mall.

The holiday will be the third Monday in January.

Mofford, a Democrat, signed the measure less than 24 hours after final passage by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The lawmakers had come under great pressure from the business community to establish the holiday during a special session.

Businessmen had argued that Arizona had lost millions of dollars from tourists because numerous convention groups boycotted the state. They said also that Arizona would not be successful in its bid for the 1993 Super Bowl without the King holiday.

The last three states without a King holiday are New Hampshire, Idaho and Montana.

The King controversy, which dates to 1975, when the first legislative bill was introduced, was blamed in part for the downfall of former Republican Gov. Evan Mecham. Shortly after taking office in 1987, Mecham repealed an executive order by his predecessor, Democrat Bruce Babbitt, establishing a King holiday.

A successful recall petition drive was started against Mecham, but, before the election could be held, Mecham was impeached by the state House on other charges and was convicted.