Orangeburg The Rev. Jesse Jackson says he is confident Greenville County will eventually adopt a holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

"In the end, that will happen. Greenville County won't be able to resist joining the rest of the nation," Jackson said Wednesday at Claflin University.

He also criticized Augusta National Golf Club's all-male membership and vowed to join protesters at the Masters Tournament if the club does not rescind its policy by April, The (Orangeburg) Times and Democrat reported.

Jackson and a crowd of 500 people showed up at a Greenville County Council meeting Tuesday night to show support for a holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader.

Supporters filled the council's chambers beyond capacity and others watched outside through a glass wall, listening to a speaker set up outside the chambers.

Jackson gave Councilwoman Lottie Gibson a petition he said had nearly 10,000 signatures in support of the holiday. He used an agenda item, council's proposed ordinance to create a Day of Unity on the Friday after Thanksgiving, to speak for about eight minutes.

"We urge you to see Dr. King's holiday celebration as yet another opportunity to move toward his legacy. ... Promote the King legacy of reconciliation and reconstruction," Jackson said, ending his speech by leading the crowd, both inside and outside, in singing the civil rights anthem "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Roun'."

Two weeks ago Jackson and a group of about two dozen people staged a sit-in after he said he was not allowed sufficient time to speak before council. About 200 supporters attended that meeting.

Jackson said more people need to come to the next meeting March 4. He plans to return for what would be his fourth appearance before the council since mid-January.

A House subcommittee approved a bill cosponsored by Greenville Democrats Rep. Fletcher Smith and Rep. Karl Allen last week that would require counties to give employees a paid holiday the third Monday in January honoring the slain civil rights leader.