By Jim Hunt for The Shinnston News and Harrison County Journal
I recently had the privilege of attending the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama at the invitation of Selma Mayor James Perkins, the first African American Mayor in Selma.
The annual commemoration of this pivotal moment in American history felt especially significant as the country reflects on the enduring legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and the progress made since that fateful day in 1965. The events of Bloody Sunday continue to resonate today, serving as a reminder of the courage and determination of those who fought for equality and justice, and as a call to action for those still fighting for the same causes.
On March 7, 1965, a group of civil rights activists, led by figures such as John Lewis and Hosea Williams, attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights for African Americans. The march was a response to the disenfranchisement of Black voters in the South, particularly in Alabama, where discriminatory practices like literacy tests and poll taxes had effectively barred Black citizens from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
Read more: https://shinnstonnews.com/selma-alabama-60-years-later/
