The city of Montgomery, known as the “Birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement,” announced Thursday that the third annual Selma to Montgomery Relay will be held in March.
The relay, which is scheduled to take place on March 21, 2020, will be hosted by Walk Jog Run to “commemorate the historic 1965 march led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Starting in Selma, this 51-mile route will begin at the prominent Edmund Pettus Bridge and end at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery.”
“The Selma to Montgomery Relay is more than just a race—we invite participants to relish in the experience of walking in the footsteps of those civil rights pioneers who came before us,” said Vergil Chames, cofounder of Walk Jog Run Club. “Last year we had over 375 participants, and we hope to build on this number through strategic partnerships, such as our relationship with Black Girls RUN.”
In accordance with the relay this year, Walk Jog Run is partnering with Black Girls RUN, a community of runners who encourage and inspire one another.
A press release for the event noted:
Divisions for 2020 are ultra-teams with one to four runners, regular teams with five to nine runners and a cyclist category with transportation options available. Participants are encouraged to appoint a captain to facilitate communication with the organizers and provide relay updates to their designated team members.
“This event continues to put Montgomery and the state of Alabama on the map as a sports destination and cultural tourism hot spot,” said Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce senior vice president Dawn Hathcock.
“Each year, participants express the unforgettable and overwhelming feeling of traveling the trail blazed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the foot soldiers of the movement, and we look forward to cheering them on as they race up Dexter Avenue and cross the finish line,” Hathcock added.
The press release for the event also said a “portion of the registration proceeds go back into the community with donations to churches and various local non-profits.”
To register for the relay, click here.
Kyle Morris also contributes daily to Breitbart News. You can follow him on Twitter @RealKyleMorris.