Opposition to King Holiday in 1983 Led by Wisconsin, Rep. Sensenbrenner and Deep South

Dr. King is still reviled in Republican
circles, and other white supremacists.

Madison, Wisconsin—President Reagan signed the Rev. King Holiday bill, (H.R. 3706 (1983)), into law on November 2, 1983.

But getting King's birthday through congress as a legal national holiday was a difficult legislative project.

Lots of hate and lots of opposition from white racists, many of whom reside in small Wisconsin municipalities.

Worth recalling this weekend is who led the opposition to King's message of peace, equality and social justice.

Six members of Congress serving today—Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa); Richard Shelby (R-Alabama); John McCain (R-Arizona); Orrin Hatch (R-Utah); and United States Reps Hal Rogers (R-Kentucky) and James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin)—remain what is left of the congressional opposition who worked against Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, (Mal Contends), (Washington Post).

All six were reelected in 2016, and all six represent very white and safe Republican jurisdictions today.

From the 1983 vote establishing King's holiday, the Congressional record reveals familiar Republican names who were loyal members of the opposition to King: Reps Tom Petri, (R-Fond du Lac), Toby Roth, (R-Green Bay), and James Sensenbrenner (R-Whitefish Bay), (Gov Track).

Racism is the legacy of cowardly souls like Petri, Roth and Sensenbrenner.

Change in America comes from the people.

Unfortunately for us in Wisconsin, Reps. like Tom Petri, Toby Roth, and James Sensenbrenner work for hateful, white people, a pursuit taken up by Paul Ryan, Scott Walker, Sean Duffy, and Ron Johnson today.

What do these people really have against King? See the photo above-right and check the color of King's hair and skin.

Black as midnight.