WHEREAS:

Dr. Martin Luther King was a special friend of AFSCME giving his life in support of our Memphis brothers' and sisters' struggle for dignity; and

WHEREAS:

Public employees in Arizona are particularly inspired by Dr. King's message in their effort to gain the basic rights enjoyed by public employees around the nation; and

WHEREAS:

Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt established Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday as an official Arizona state holiday by Executive Order, on May 18, 1986, citing the need for "the citizens of Arizona to rededicate themselves to the compassionate philosophies by which Martin Luther King, Jr. lived;" and

WHEREAS:

By action of the United States Congress approved by the President the Federal Government has established the third Monday in January as a national holiday in honor of the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, and forty states have also established state holidays in honor of Dr. King; and

WHEREAS:

Despite this clear record of broad national support for such a holiday, Governor-elect Evan Mecham has announced that his first official act as Governor will be to rescind the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday; and

WHEREAS:

Dr. King's legacy is one of peace and reconciliation, not partisan and narrow recrimination.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the International Executive Board reaffirm AFSCME's support for the national campaign — now largely achieved to establish a holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the International Executive Board respectfully calls on Arizona Governor-elect Mecham to reconsider his announced intention of rescinding the executive order establishing the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday so that Arizona may continue with the overwhelming majority of States in the Union in honoring the memory of a great American.