Bill separating King-Lee holiday filed, Black Caucus reviewing measure

A bill that would separate the Arkansas state holidays honoring civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King and Civil War General Robert E. Lee was filed Tuesday, but it doesn’t include any African-American legislative sponsors initially.

Senate Bill 519 by Sen. David Wallace, R-Leachville, and Rep. Grant Hodges, R-Rogers, would make the third Monday in January an official state holiday honoring only King. The second Saturday in October would be Robert E. Lee Day, not a holiday but one of Arkansas’ “state memorial days to be commemorated by gubernatorial proclamation,” the bill says.

Arkansas is one of three states that celebrate the two men’s birthdays concurrently, the others being Alabama and Mississippi. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said prior to this year’s legislative session that separating the holidays was one of his legislative priorities.

An effort to separate the holidays in the 2015 session failed after it met resistance. Gov. Asa Hutchinson supported the bill but did not make it a top legislative priority. He supports the measure now.

The bill also requires the commissioner of education to emphasize, as part of an already existing unit on African-American history, the work of American civil rights leaders, including King, “and his pursuit of justice in civil society.” The material would be taught alongside corresponding state and federal holidays.

It also requires the Department of Education to develop materials relating to Arkansas and the Civil War prior to the 2018-19 Civil War. The material would emphasize “civilian and military leadership during the period and how the lessons of that era can inform contemporary society.”

Rep. Vivian Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, chair of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus, said her group has seen several versions of the bill and is still studying the measure filed today.

“When the process first started, I believe that the governor understood that he and his staff needed to draft the language first and figure out what it was going to be,” she said.

“For me – because the caucus hasn’t had a chance to flush out the language and provide some initial feedback – we’re still in the process of providing feedback. We’re in full support of what the bill is trying to do to separate the holidays,” Flowers added.

The Black Caucus members typically meet on Mondays during the session, but Flowers predicted a statement on the bill would be made before then.

Editor’s note: Talk Business & Politics Roby Brock contributed to this story.