Selma to Montgomery marches

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== Selma to Montgomery marches ==

The Selma to Montgomery marches were three protest marches, held in 1965, along the 54-mile highway from Selma, Alabama to the state capital of Montgomery, Alabama. The marches were organized by nonviolent activists to demonstrate the desire of African-American citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote, in defiance of segregationist repression. The events became a landmark in the American Civil Rights Movement and directly led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Background[edit | edit source]

The struggle for voting rights in Selma was part of a broader campaign by civil rights organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Despite the Civil Rights Act of 1964, African Americans in the South faced significant barriers to voting, including literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation.

Bloody Sunday[edit | edit source]

The first march took place on March 7, 1965, and became known as "Bloody Sunday" due to the violent response by law enforcement. Approximately 600 marchers, led by John Lewis and Hosea Williams, were attacked by state troopers and local police with billy clubs and tear gas as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Turnaround Tuesday[edit | edit source]

The second march, known as "Turnaround Tuesday," occurred on March 9, 1965. Led by Martin Luther King Jr., the marchers walked to the Edmund Pettus Bridge, prayed, and then turned back, adhering to a court order that prohibited the march. This strategic retreat was intended to avoid further violence and to seek federal protection for the marchers.

The Final March[edit | edit source]

The third and final march began on March 21, 1965, with the protection of federalized National Guard troops. Over the course of five days, thousands of marchers made their way from Selma to Montgomery, culminating in a rally at the Alabama State Capitol on March 25, 1965. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "How Long, Not Long" speech, emphasizing the inevitability of justice and equality.

Impact[edit | edit source]

The Selma to Montgomery marches were instrumental in raising awareness about the struggle for voting rights and led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibited racial discrimination in voting. The marches are remembered as a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement and have been commemorated in various forms, including the annual Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee.