Black caucus delays vote on ending King-Lee day in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK — Black lawmakers are holding off on saying whether they support an effort this year to end Arkansas' practice of honoring civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on the same day.

The Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus on Tuesday tabled a vote on ending the dual holiday. Gov. Asa Hutchinson is considering putting the proposal on the agenda for a special session later this spring. Members of the caucus said they want to see the proposed legislation in writing before taking a stance.

Arkansas is one of three states to jointly celebrate the black civil-rights icon and the white Confederate general on the third Monday in January, and a proposal to end that practice failed repeatedly before a House committee last year.

Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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