JACKSON — Mississippi House Representative Kabir Karriem kept his word when he said he would introduce legislation to solely celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. as a state holiday. Mississippi is one of two states who splits the third Monday of January with confederate general Robert E. Lee.

Karriem introduced the legislation Wednesday morning as House Bill 51. Robert E. Lee’s birthday is technically January 19 but Mississippi and Alabama deliberately celebrate  it on the same day as MLK Jr. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves still quitely proclaims April as Confederate Heritage Month.

Louisiana repealed holidays for Robert E. Lee’s birthday and confederate memorial day in 2022. Mississippi still recognizes confederate memorial day.

House Bill 51 would move to exclusively recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day and remove Robert E. Lee’s Birthday as a legal state holiday. The legislation was referred to the Rules House Committee.