18 years on U.S. remembers dream

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 6

18 years on U.S. remembers dream

By

TOM BRIDGMAN

of NZPA

Washington The American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, was assassinated nearly 18 years ago as he stood on a balcony in Memphis, Tennessee.

This month the man who dreamed of a time in America where his children “will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character” will be remembered in a new Federal public holiday.

Dr King’s hope has not yet become reality but now his birthday will be celebrated each year on the third Monday in January, this year January 20. It marks the growth of the political power of blacks during the last 20 years and the significance of Dr King in the struggle for civil rights.

King Day has taken a long time to arrive. The first efforts to create a rememberance holiday began in 1969 when a bill was introduced to Congress.

Opponents, denying they were motivated by racial bias, had argued that the United States did not need another public holiday (there were already 9 designated Federal holidays), that others were more deserving of rememberance, and that the economic costs of yet another public holiday were too high. The law designating the holiday was eventually passed with the day “to serve as a time for Americans to reflect on the principles of racial equality and non-violent social change espoused by Martin Luther King, jun.”

A number of ceremonies and events have been organised for January 20, including the unveiling and dedication of a bust of Dr King in the rotunda of the United States Capitol. Other events include a televised gala featuring entertainers including Stevie Wonder, Eddie Murphy, and Bill Cosby, and a national march and parade of celebration in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr King’s hometown.

Marching will be Rosa Parks who, in 1955, as a seamstress, aged 42, sat in the front of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, and refused to give it up to a white man. Her expected arrest was followed by the Montgomery bus boycott, one of the key events in the civil rights movement The boycott was the first demonstration of the economic power that could be wielded by blacks and drew also Dr King to national attention.

As a leading spokesman for the Montgomery Improvement Association he was the target of violent harassment, including a bomb attack on his house.

Dr King went on to enhance his national role and in 1963 at a massive demonstration in Washington electrified the hundreds of thousands present with his “I have a dream” speech. In 1964, after the assassination of President John Kennedy the Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, 1964, which forbade all discrimination in public places,

in hiring, and promotions. King Day will not be a national holiday. The United States has only Federal holidays for Government workers, and state holidays. Some Federal holidays, such as New Year’s Day and Independence Day, are recognised in all states. Business and industry decides what days will be holidays for the workers. Most American public holidays, in recognition of the consumer ethic that dominates society, are nothing more than excuses for massive sales by retail outlets.

Boxing Day is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days. King Day, in spite of its worthy background, has yet to get much recognition from the business community.

One survey by a Philadelphia consultant found that most employers would not close.

It found that 73 per cent of firms would open, 11 per cent would be closed, and 8 per cent were undecided.