50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday

The 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday

On March 7, 1965 nearly 500 civil rights marchers were beaten back by police officers equipped with tear gas and clubs as they tried to cross the infamous Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. On March 21, 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., led a five-day march with crowds growing to 25,000 in a federally supported march for equality. The 54 mile march directly impacted the signing of Voting Rights Act of 1965.

From March 5th through the 9th, all eyes will once again be on Selma as The Bridge Crossing Jubilee commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday with a weekend of reflection around the theme Remember, Recommit, and Restore. Thousands are expected to attend the festivities including U.S. Presidents, congressional representatives, national personalities, and entertainers. President Barack Obama will give the keynote address on Saturday, March 7th.