Mississippi, Alabama honors Robert E. Lee on Martin Luther King Day

On January 18, 2025By Littum

Two US states honor Confederate General Robert E. Lee on the federal holiday for civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Do you know which ones?

This year, the state and federal holiday also falls on Inauguration Day President-elect Donald Trump.

Here’s what you need to know about King-Lee Day and its history. Will mail be delivered? Will the banks be open?

Why is MLK Day on January 20th?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is always scheduled to occur on the third Monday in January. President Ronald Regan signed the bill creating the holiday into federal law in 1983. It was first observed in 1986.

King was born on January 15, 1929.

In 2 states, MLK Day also honors Robert E. Lee

When the federal holiday was enacted in the 1980s, legislators in Mississippi and Alabama chose to add it to an existing holiday honoring Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Many states in the South initially adopted this approach. Most, including Lee’s home state of Virginia, have since dropped the celebration of Lee, who was born on January 19, 1807.

Attempts to separate public holidays through legislation have failed. Mississippi State Rep. Kabir Karriem, D-Columbus, introduced bills that failed 2023 and 2024. He submitted one new bill to separate public holidays Wednesday, January 15.

The only other state that celebrates Robert E. Lee Day and King together is Alabama. Similar bills to separate the celebration of Lee or strike it entirely from the state holiday calendar have also failed.

What other Confederate holidays are celebrated?

Confederate Memorial Day is still celebrated throughout the South, although not all places treat it officially and give state workers a day off. In Mississippi, the last Monday in April is an official holiday. In Alabama and Florida, it is the fourth Monday in April. Alabama treats it as an official holiday. Texas celebrates it as a state holiday on January 19. North and South Carolina celebrate May 10, but state offices close only in South Carolina. June 3rd is when Kentucky and Tennessee honor the Civil War dead, and Tennessee calls it Confederate Decoration Day.

Alabama has one state holiday for Confederate President Jefferson Davis on the first Monday in June, but Mississippi pairing it with Memorial Day on the last Monday in May. (He was born June 3, 1808.)

Will I get mail? Will banks be open? Will the schools be closed?

Mail will not run on MLK Day and post offices will be closed. UPS will also be closed and FedEx will have changed FedEx1 service but will be open otherwise.

Banks will be closed.

Public schools usually close. Check your child’s school calendar to be sure.

Will flags be at half-staff on MLK Day?

American flags are lowered in mourning. President Joe Biden announced on Monday, December 30 that all American flags will be at half-mast for 30 days to honor the death of former President Jimmy Carter. Carter, who was also a former governor of Georgia, died at 100 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, at his home in Georgia.

It is set to end on January 28th. How long flags must be flown at half-mast after the death of a former president was set in 1954.

Private companies and citizens can choose to display flags at half-mast.

Trump complained that flags were at half-staff at the Truth Social.

“Democrats are all ‘giddy’ that our magnificent American flag is potentially at ‘half-mast’ during my inauguration.” Trump said in a post. He used the term for flags being halfway up the mast of a ship, not a flagpole. “They think it’s so great, and are so happy about it, because they really don’t love our country, they only think about themselves.”

Photos show the flags were at full staff as of Monday, January 13 at Trump’s Florida home, Mar-a-Lago.

On Tuesday, US Speaker Mike Johnson announced that flags at the US Capitol will be flown at full staff for the inauguration.

On Thursday, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves ordered Mississippi flags to fly at full height on Monday for the inauguration.

“This is a historic day for America, and Mississippi looks forward to celebrating it,” Reeves said in a news release Thursday. “Our state is thrilled to have Donald J. Trump sworn in as president and we look forward to supporting his America First agenda, Mississippi is ready to help Make America Great Again!

Other governors have also ordered flags at full staff for the dedication, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

What is the difference between half pole and half pole?

The term half-pole applies to ships and naval stations. When a flag is displayed on a flagpole on land, the correct term is half-mast.

Cast: Grant McLaughlin

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at [email protected].