
The Journey To Recognize MLK Day In Montana
Martin Luther King Jr. Day holds great significance as a federal holiday commemorating the renowned civil rights leader, and the story of how it became a recognized holiday in Montana is equally noteworthy.
The journey to establish this holiday in the state provides insight into the complexities and dynamics surrounding the push for civil rights recognition in Montana and the broader United States.
The Push for Recognition (1983-1991)
The holiday, celebrated on the third Monday of January each year, provides a designated time to reflect on America’s complex history around race and civil rights. However, it wasn’t until 1983 that Martin Luther King Jr. Day was put on the books nationally when a bill designating a federal holiday around King’s birthday was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.
Montana, however, followed suit eight years later in 1991, when a bill signed by Governor Stan Stephens finally acknowledged and honored the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. as a state holiday.
Challenges and Controversy
The road to establishing MLK Day in Montana was not without its challenges. According to legislative committee minutes from the time, the bill, Senate Bill 78, replaced a “Heritage Day” holiday that had been enacted four years earlier.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Harry Fritz of Missoula, argued that the general-purpose cultural diversity holiday had "become a holiday of convenience and has never recognized anyone’s heritage." Support for the bill came from a diverse group of advocates, including then-State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Keenan, then-Secretary of State Mike Cooney, and a representative of future Republican governor Marc Racicot.
Voices of Support and Opposition
Some opponents, as noted in the committee minutes, argued against recognizing King due to his alleged associations with communism. However, despite these challenges, the bill successfully passed the Montana Senate and House, laying the groundwork for the celebration of MLK Day as a state holiday. Schoolchildren and various religious and community organizations voiced their support for the holiday.

Notably, Bob Gervais, a state representative from the Blackfeet Reservation, highlighted the importance of the Civil Rights Movement as an inspiration for Native Americans, emphasizing the shared struggle against discrimination.
LOOK: 50 essential civil rights speeches
Gallery Credit: Karen Johanson
LOOK: 19 Black historical figures you probably didn't learn about in class
Gallery Credit: Stacker