(Greenville-AP) Jan. 27, 2003 - Some Greenville area business leaders say the County Council's failure to adopt a Martin Luther King Junior Holiday could make the county unattractive for development.

Liberty Corporation Chairman Hayne Hipp says businesses don't want to be part of conflict, prejudice and disagreement. Liberty owns WIS Television.

A council committee refused to advance a resolution honoring the slain civil rights leader last week, even after the Reverend Jesse Jackson, a Greenville native, addressed the council Tuesday. Jackson says activists from the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition will attend meetings of the Greenville County Council until it votes to observe Martin Luther King Day .

Jackson says Greenville County should be leaders, not followers, because the "new South" was created by Doctor King.

Council Chairwoman Phyllis Henderson says county government should not take the first steps in the debate. She says few businesses in Greenville County give employees the day off.

Hipp says the King Day position and the county's anti-gay resolution seven years ago will be looked at by some people as confirmation of prejudices. About nine counties in the state do not honor the slain civil rights leader with a holiday.

updated 8:09am by Chris Rees