City Renames Holiday After Backlash

This morning, the City of Biloxi left no doubt that the third Monday of January every year will always be named Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Day.
After a weekend spent on the hot seat and in the national eye, the city corrected a 1985 ordinance that called the third Monday in January “Great Americans Day.”
City councilmen made it clear, regardless of the circumstances that created the original name change, they were there today to make it right.
Many city residents spoke directly to the council, applauding their swift action while also following in the footsteps of past coast civil rights leaders.
Eula Crowell with the Jabez Educational Learning Center said,“I thought about the people, the pioneers that have gone on before us. Like Fannie Lou Hamer that said, she was sick and tired. Then I thought about Dr. Mason as he went on the beach as he said he was sick and tired of not being able to go on the beach.”
Mayor Andrew “Fofo” Gilich said “Once you understand the definition of the problem then it’s easy to take corrective action and that’s what we did. Here we are today. I’m real pleased with our citizens, and the support they gave with what we’re trying to do. We did it and here we are.”
The council’s vote to change the holiday’s name was unanimous.