Trump signs legislation creating first national park honoring African-American

ATLANTA (CBS46) - During his visit to Atlanta to watch the National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, President Donald Trump also signed legislation proclaiming the first national park to honor an African-American.

With Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece, Alveda King, next to him, Trump signed the historic legislation into law. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is now a National Historic Park. It expands the boundaries of the former King Center to include the Prince Hall Masonic Temple. Dr. King used it as a headquarters for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

It's the first of its kind in Georgia.

Dr. Bernice King issued this statement on the signing of the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Act:

"This moment is significant because the Martin Luther King, Jr. national park will be the first national park that honors an African-American. It also fulfills my mother's dream of the King Historic District becoming a full-fledged park."

Congressman John Lewis introduced the legislation four years ago.