Arizona Has History of Racist Legislation

In 1986, the Arizona state legislature rejected efforts to establish Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a holiday.  That same year, Governor Bruce Babbitt declared MLK day a holiday.  In 1987, Arizona had a new governor, Evan Mecham, who rescinded Governor Babbitt's declaration.  In 1989, the state legislature finally passed legislation establishing the holiday, but it was subsequently rejected by voters via  ballot measure.  It wasn't until after the NFL voted to pull the 1993 Super Bowl from Tempe, Arizona and award it to Pasadena that Arizona voters approved the holiday.