SELMA — On Sunday, thousands marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the March 7, 1965 “Bloody Sunday” march.
The 1965 march was considered a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement. John Lewis, now a Democrat U.S. congressman representing Georgia’s fifth congressional district, and Hosea Williams, led 600 marchers from the nearby Brown Chapel AME Church and across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Alabama State Troopers, under the direction of then-Public Safety Director Al Lingo, attacked the marchers, which led to the hospitalization of 50 marchers.
Televised coverage of the march is believed to have galvanized the support that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which removed the barrier that prevented minorities from voting.
Among the dignitaries spotted participating in Sunday’s event were Rev. Jesse Jackson and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
Also present was Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who some speculate could be making a bid for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential nomination.
Many groups participated in Sunday’s event, including the Alabama Prince Hall Masons.
Jeff Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and works as the editor of Breitbart TV. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeff_poor.
