Alabama and Mississippi will also honor Robert E. Lee on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Alabama and Mississippi honored both Confederate General Robert E. Lee and civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 20. Black lawmakers in Alabama and Mississippi have attempted to separate the holidays, which land on the third Monday of January each year, but have been unsuccessful so far.
Rep. Kenyatta Hassell, D, plans to introduce new legislation in Alabama to remove Lee from the holiday in the upcoming legislative session.
The combined holiday continues in states with significant Black populations. For instance, Black citizens make up 36% in Mississippi and 27% in Alabama.