Selma Commemorates 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday Amid Renewed Voting Rights Battles
Sixty years ago today, a pivotal moment in American history unfolded on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Hundreds of peaceful protestors, bravely marching for their fundamental right to vote, were met with brutal force by law enforcement. The scene, now etched in the nation’s memory as "Bloody Sunday," saw protestors tear gassed, beaten, and injured, including a young John Lewis, who suffered a fractured skull.
Led by the indomitable spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis, and countless others, the protestors refused to be silenced. They returned later that month, completing the arduous 54-mile march to Montgomery, the state capital, unwavering in their demand for equal voting rights. This act of courage and resilience served as a catalyst for change, galvanizing the nation and ultimately paving the way for landmark federal voting rights legislation.
This weekend, Selma will once again be the focal point of national attention as faith leaders, members of Congress, and civil rights veterans gather to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. The anniversary serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made and the progress achieved in the fight for voting rights, but also as a stark warning that the struggle is far from over.
Most of the original marchers, including the late John Lewis, who went on to become a revered member of Congress and a champion of civil rights, have since passed away. Their legacy, however, lives on, inspiring a new generation of activists to continue the fight for justice and equality. The commemoration will be marked by a series of programs, including a service at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, the historic gathering place for activists during the 1965 march.
A bipartisan congressional delegation will also travel to Alabama to pay homage to the history of Bloody Sunday and salute the civil rights veterans who risked their lives to secure voting rights for all Americans. For years, John Lewis led the annual congressional pilgrimage to Selma, ensuring that the lessons of the past were never forgotten.
"It really is about looking back, but also looking forward," said Robert Traynham, president and CEO of the nonpartisan Faith & Politics Institute, which hosts the congressional trip. "The 60th anniversary is honoring the legacy and the impact of these individuals, what these leaders did 60 years ago. But it really is about how do we take those lessons learned, how do we take that impact that they made 60 years ago and apply that to today."
The milestone anniversary arrives at a critical juncture in American history, as some states are enacting measures that restrict the teaching of Black history, ban books, and implement election changes that activists argue disenfranchise voters of color. These actions have sparked widespread concern and renewed calls for vigilance in protecting voting rights.
"We are hearing attacks constantly now from the new administration, from members of Congress who are claiming that our history, and particularly the history of Black folks and communities of color in this country, is not important, is not worthy of being told," said Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center and SPLC Action Fund.
Huang emphasized the importance of acknowledging the "foot soldiers" in places like Selma, who risked their lives to fight for voting rights. "This is some of the most inspiring stories of courage and resilience that we have in our history, that people, everyday people, stood up and demanded that the country give equal protection under the laws and equal access to the ballot box," she said.
The televised brutality on the Edmund Pettus Bridge 60 years ago shocked the nation and served as a turning point in the civil rights movement. The landmark Voting Rights Act was signed into law that summer, a testament to the power of nonviolent protest and the unwavering determination of civil rights activists.
Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, a human rights organization dedicated to ending mass incarceration, highlighted the transformative impact of Bloody Sunday. "What King, Lewis and others were able to do was to shock the nation by revealing the violence of Jim Crow and resistance to integration," he said. "The visual spectacle of all of that violence against nonviolent protesters is what moved this country."
Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell, co-host of the congressional pilgrimage, emphasized the significance of the commemoration as an opportunity to reflect on an important part of American history and inspire people to protect democracy. "What happened on Bloody Sunday is worthy of remembering so that we will never forget it," she said.
Throughout the weekend, a variety of commemoration events spearheaded by different organizations, including the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, will take place. More than 40 members of Congress are expected to participate in the Faith & Politics three-day trip, which includes visits to historic sites in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma.
Guests will also include descendants of some of Alabama’s legendary civil rights veterans, including the late Fred Shuttlesworth. On Friday, the group will visit the Edmund Pettus Bridge for a moment of reflection.
"That quiet reflection of looking back and honoring, obviously all of the foot soldiers, all of the civil rights leaders, I think it’s the most important thing that we can be doing, not just on Friday, but every day," said Traynham.
Brown Chapel AME Church, which served as a command center and rest stop for protestors during the 1965 march, will host a program Sunday featuring Stevenson. "Brown Chapel was not going to sit on the sidelines as a spectator while there were persons who were brave enough, courageous enough, faithful enough to participate," said Pastor Leodis Strong. "They didn’t see it as an epic history watershed moment, they saw it as just a struggle for their lives, their human dignity."
Stevenson said the anniversary is a reminder of the nation’s "shameful history of disenfranchisement" and why participating in the political process is essential. "We’re still in the midst of this struggle," said Stevenson, who last year opened a sculpture park in Montgomery dedicated to preserving Black history. "There is still intense resistance to Black political power through the vote. We’ve seen gerrymandering. We’ve seen restrictions on voting rights. We’re seeing the resurgence of new barriers that disproportionately impact poor people and Black people when it comes to registering to vote."
Stevenson said his message Sunday will be "you’re not too old or not too young to stand up for justice, to make a difference. And that’s the legacy of Bloody Sunday and the activism of the march in 1965."
With attention focused on the anniversary, Democrats also hope to press Congress to act on the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The federal bill would, among other things, restore a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that required states with a history of discrimination to get federal approval before making election changes.
"The fight for voting rights is just as urgent as it was 60 years ago," said Sewell, who reintroduced the bill Wednesday.
Opponents argue the bill is unnecessary and that much has changed since the 1960s, when states erected barriers to prevent Black people from voting. Supporters acknowledge it stands little chance of passing in the Republican-controlled Congress.
Still, South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, who has championed the bill, said it’s worth trying. He said attention to the commemoration may help. "I hope it will serve to keep the focus on that. Every chance I get, I try to remind people that we don’t have the luxury of not passing the measure," said Clyburn, a close friend of Lewis’ and an honorary chair of the congressional pilgrimage.
Faith leaders, lawmakers, and activists said they also hope the commemoration will spur efforts to protect voting rights and support social justice. "We were right in 1965 to lift up social justice, we’re right now," Strong said. "You’re not going to be able to make America great by marching backwards… We’re going to have to keep marching forward because the best of America is forward."
