King Holiday Dispute Cancels Convention in Phoenix
The National League of Cities on Saturday canceled its 1991 convention in Phoenix because Arizona does not recognize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a state holiday.
The group, which has 9,000 members, said it would take its annual convention to Phoenix in 1995, provided that the state adopts the holiday to honor the slain civil rights leader.
Next year’s league gathering was expected to draw at least 10,000 visitors and generate $6.9 million, Phoenix officials said.
“Racism is not a problem that can be localized to Arizona by any stretch of the imagination. It’s a problem that exists all over the nation today,” said Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson.
“Our city has a Martin Luther King holiday,” he said. “We’re the only city in the nation today and the only city that sits on that board that has a holiday that was passed by a vote of the people.”
The pullout was suggested by Tucson Mayor Tom Volgy.
“This organization is an organization that has been built on diversity and mutual respect and wherever this organization goes, it deserves to go only to the cities that do display that same mutual respect,” Volgy said.
But he added that cities like Phoenix and Tucson should not be penalized for their state’s inaction.
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