In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the bill that would make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday. It began to be observed three years later in many states.
Not all states. New Hampshire was one of the states that chose not to. In 1991, the Legislature abolished Fast Day, in order to create Civil Rights Day, a holiday that would coincide with MLK Day, but not use his name. Finally, in 1999 N.H. became the last state to honor Dr. King.
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