Edmund Pettus Bridge

Edmund Pettus Bridge

The Edmund Pettus Bridge is a historic bridge in Selma, Alabama, United States. It is named after Edmund Winston Pettus, a former Confederate brigadier general, U.S. senator, and Grand Dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan. The bridge is a significant landmark in American history, particularly in the context of the Civil Rights Movement.

History

The bridge was completed in 1940 and spans the Alabama River. It was designed by Henson Stephenson and constructed by the T. A. Loving Company. The bridge is 1,248 feet long and 52 feet wide, with a central span of 250 feet.

Significance in the Civil Rights Movement

The Edmund Pettus Bridge gained national attention during the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. On March 7, 1965, a day that became known as "Bloody Sunday," approximately 600 civil rights marchers, led by John Lewis and Hosea Williams, attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights for African Americans. As they crossed the bridge, they were brutally attacked by law enforcement officers, who used billy clubs and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The violent response to the peaceful marchers was broadcast on national television, shocking the nation and galvanizing support for the civil rights movement. This event was a pivotal moment that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Legacy

The Edmund Pettus Bridge is now a symbol of the struggle for voting rights and racial equality in the United States. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2013. Each year, the bridge is the site of commemorative marches and events to honor the legacy of those who fought for civil rights.

Controversy and Calls for Renaming

There have been ongoing discussions and campaigns to rename the bridge due to its namesake's association with the Confederacy and the Ku Klux Klan. Many activists and community leaders argue that the bridge should be renamed to honor the civil rights activists who marched across it, such as John Lewis.

See Also

• Civil Rights Movement
• Selma to Montgomery marches
• Voting Rights Act of 1965
• John Lewis

References

• "Selma and the Voting Rights Act." National Park Service. Retrieved from [1]
• "Edmund Pettus Bridge." National Historic Landmarks Program. Retrieved from [2]