On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Voting Act of 1964 into law.
Four days later, a group of about 50 people went to the Dallas County courthouse in Selma, Al. to register to vote.
Not only were they denied, but they were arrested.
The next day, a judge signed an injunction that made it illegal for two or more people to gather together and talk about voter registration.
Think about that: You couldn't even
talk about registering to vote.
-Six months later on January 2, 1965, Dr. King defied that injunction and held a meeting at Brown Chapel in Selma, Alabama to plan a strategy to get people registered.
The plan was to branch out into surrounding counties and get as many people involved as possible.
-On February 18, 1965
Rev. C.T. Vivian, of the SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) led a march through the streets of nearby Marion, Al. to the Perry County courthouse.
That march took place late in the evening.
Local officials were ordered by the governor to turn the street lights off.
When the street lights were turned off, state troopers moved in and attacked the marchers.
Later that night, one of those state troopers followed a young man by the name of Jimmie Lee Jackson to his house. Once he got to the house, the trooper got into an altercation with Jimmie Lee Jackson's mother.
In an effort to protect his mother, Jimmie Lee fought the state trooper. Instead of fighting, the trooper pulled out his gun and shot him.
Jimmie Lee Jackson died in the hospital eight days later.
After his death, Rev. James Bevel of the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) called for a march from Selma to Montgomery to confront Gov. George Wallace over Mr. Jackson's death-and to also demand that every black person in the state of Alabama have the right to vote.
-Sunday, March 7th
An estimated 500 people gathered at the Edmund Pettus Bridge to begin that march.
As they appraoched the bridge, they were met by state troopers who cited that earlier injunction and ordered the group to disband.
When they didn't, the marchers (men AND women) were sprayed with tear gas, beaten with billy clubs, brass-knuckles, chains etc.
One of those people was John Lewis, (now Congressman John Lewis of Georgia), who to this day still has the gash on the left side of his head where the billy club split his head open.
The marchers were beaten so badly, and there was so much blood shed that-that day became known as "Bloody Sunday".
-Two days later, Tuesday March 9th
Dr. King led about 2,000 people (including those same people who were beaten) out to the Edmund Pettus bridge for a prayer session. After they prayed they turned around, showing the authorities that their motive was
not to break the law.
This day became known as,
"Turnaround Tuesday."
Later that night, Rev. James Reeb, a
WHITE minister from Boston who was there showing his support for the marchers, was beaten to death by the KKK.
His death got the attention of the national media, which put pressure on local officials to lift that earlier injunction.
-March 21st
An estimated 10,000 people gathered once again at the Edmund Pettus Bridge to once again, march from Selma to Montgomery. They marched through rain, cold weather and other horrible elements. But those elements weren't enough to deter them from their mission-which was to confront Gov. Wallace, but more importantly, get registered to vote.
Not everyone made it the entire trip, but that's not the point.
The point is: They were determined to vote!
For those of you who don't know, the distance from Selma to Montgomery is almost 50 miles.
If these people were willing to be beaten.......
If they were willing to risk their lives.......
If they were willing to march 50 miles.........
Then why in the world can't you get up off of
your sorry, lazy a** to go vote?
GO VOTE!
