Arkansas bill to end dual Lee-King day heads to final vote

LITTLE ROCK—A House panel endorsed an effort Tuesday to end Arkansas' dual holiday honoring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., sending the proposal to its final vote at the urging of the state's Republican governor.

The House Education Committee advanced by a voice vote the proposal to remove Lee from the state holiday in January honoring King. Only two other states, Mississippi and Alabama, commemorate the men on the same day.

Hutchinson told lawmakers King deserves the day to himself and the move was needed to help improve Arkansas' image, noting the attention Arkansas has received for the dual holiday in recent years.

"I would like to think this is important enough that it is a healing moment for our state, I think it is a unifying moment for our state between the minority community and others," Hutchinson told the panel.

Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2017/mar/15/arkansas-bill-end-dual-lee-king-day-heads-final-vote/665558/