Missouri lawmakers observe King holiday for first time

Jet, Feb 3, 2003

MISSOURI LAWMAKERS OBSERVE KING HOLIDAY FOR FIRST TIME: Missouri state Rep. Yaphett El-Amin (D-St. Louis, 1), and state Rep. Juanita Walton (D-St. Louis, r), talk with Republican House Speaker Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods on the floor of the Missouri House in Jefferson City, MO, prior to the Missouri Legislature's announcement that it would close for the observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr.

Holiday, which fell on Jan. 20 this year. "This is a first for the Missouri General Assembly and a practice that I hope will be continued by the leaders of the future," said state Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder (R-Cape Girardeau). "This is an appropriate and proper change and one that is long overdue in the state of Missouri." Historically, the Legislature has worked on the Monday in January, which was first designated as a national holiday in 1983 to observe King's Jan. 15 birthday. The King holiday was first celebrated nationwide in January 1986; all 50 states now observe the day.