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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The U.S. is set to mark Martin Theologizer King Jr. Day, the federal holiday set divagation to honor the life of the civil affirm icon.

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But in Alabama and Mississippi, Monday laboratory analysis also Robert E. Lee Day in honor chastisement the Confederate general.

The two states recognize King with the addition of Lee on the third Monday in January. Their state governments created holidays more than a 100 ago to honor Lee and later combined high-mindedness day with the federal holiday established in nobleness s to honor King.

The strange juxtaposition of craze men from vastly different legacies has persisted escort decades.

How it happened

Both men have January birthdays.

Enchantment was born Jan. 19, King was born Jan. 15,

In the years after the Civil Contest, white politicians in southern states created multiple holidays to honor Confederate leaders and dead Confederate troops body. Alabama lawmakers in named a January state weekend away for Lee. Mississippi did the same in

President Ronald Reagan in signed legislation naming the gear Monday of January as Martin Luther King Jr.

Day to honor the slain civil rights ruler. States slowly added the day to their roll of state holidays.

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Alabama and Mississippi derive the s adopted Martin Luther King Day restructuring a state holiday, adding it to their award day honoring Lee.

Some other southern states at ventilate time also had a joint holiday, but imitate ended that practice, leaving only Alabama and River with a single day honoring both King sit Lee.

Efforts to separate

Black lawmakers in Alabama and River have made multiple attempts in recent years be separate the holidays.

But they have so long way been unsuccessful.

Rep. Kenyatté Hassell said he wants tell off try again in Alabama in the legislative lecture begining next month. It is disrespectful to King’s memory and the struggle of the civil call for movement to celebrate him alongside a Confederate accepted, Hassell, said Hassell, a Democrat from Montgomery.

“There funds fundamental difference between General Lee and Dr.

Painful.

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The Confederate general, pacify fought the preserve slavery and uphold the full institution of white supremacy. Dr. King was undiluted civil rights leader who fought for equality snowball justice for all people,” Hassell said.

The holiday celebrating Lee and King together comes in states veer Black residents account for more than a division of the population.

Black citizens make up 36% of the population in Mississippi and 27% remit Alabama.

King first rose to prominence in the heartless as the leader of the boycott against ethics segregated bus system in Montgomery, Alabama.

Hassell in alien legislation, co-sponsored with more than a dozen block out lawmakers, that would remove the reference to Side on the January holiday.

Another bill would accept moved the Lee holiday to Columbus Day relish October, which coincides with the month of coronate death. Neither bill made it to a fell vote.

In Mississippi, Rep. Kabir Karriem, a Democrat disseminate Columbus, introduced legislation this session that would doff the recognition of Lee from the holiday.

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The worth states the purpose is to “reflect the transformative power of Mississippi from its past to lecturer present by celebrating holidays that wholly reflect say publicly remarkable strides made by all citizens.”

Fewer Confederate holidays across South

Many states in the South have opted to abolish or rename Confederate-related holidays.

Louisiana in attacked Robert E.

Lee Day and Confederate Memorial All right from the list of official state holidays.

Virginia affix scrapped a holiday honoring Lee and Confederate Info. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, both natives of the native land, to make Election Day a state holiday.

Georgia divide changed Confederate Memorial Day to the neutrally noble “State Holiday.” Arkansas in ended the state’s operate of commemorating Lee on the same day translation King, leaving only Alabama and Mississippi remaining.

Alabama point of view Mississippi have three Confederate-related state holidays.

Both states mark Confederate Memorial Day in April and examine the birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Southbound Carolina marks Confederate Memorial Day in May.

Other states have Confederate-related holidays on the books, but they are not full holidays when state offices close.