Daniel Bryan Mrs.

Layman English 10 March 22, 2012 Selma-Montgomery Marches Bringing the nation together as one, the Selma to Alabama Marches encouraged unity as the struggle for equality continued for African Americans. The Civil Rights Movement started in 1955 and lasted through 1968 (Cozzens). Much was accomplished during this movement yet there is still more to come. The ongoing struggle of African American equality continues through America and leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. continue to push forward. The SelmaMontgomery Marches were one of the many displays of pride and hope in the black community. Other actions included the Montgomery Bus Boycott; sit ins, freedom rides, along with many others. African Americans of this time displayed many courageous and selfless acts to reach their main goal of equality. Without their efforts, today we may not be the country we are and segregation may still stand and strike undeserving men and women of different races. The Selma-Montgomery Marches consisted of 3 marches; each one going on a 54 mile journey. The goal of these marches was to gain voting rights for African Americans in southern states. The plan was for the march to reach the capital building and once reached a speech would be given to ask for the right to vote. The governor of Alabama at the time was Governor Wallace and he did not plan on giving in easy to the peaceful demands of King and his assembly of followers. The governor asked all capable men 21 or over to come to the capital building to be

Daniel 2 honored a short term state officer so the numbers would be on his side for the upcoming altercation. The first march took off on March 7th, 1965 during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement. This march included 600 people who took the 6 day long travel to the governors building. Rest points were set up along the way so all people included in the march had food, water, and shelter every night. On the 6th day of travel, members arrived at the Edmund Pettus Bridge to cross over and reach their goal. While crossing over this bridge they were shockingly met by a strong force of state policemen. Stunned at the sight the leaders of the march told fellow members to cautiously march forward until a distance was reached suitable for communication. Before able to negotiate with the officers or given the option to leave, the policemen charged the innocent marchers! With brutal force the police beat many members with clubs and set off tear gas throughout the streets (NPS). This left 17 hospitalized and amazed the black community along with the nation. This date in history became known as Bloody Sunday, due to the distress it caused and the lasting impact. After hearing of this incident, Martin Luther King Jr. decided to assist the previous leaders and set up a second march. This second march had the same outcome, except for the marchers being prepared for the police and turning back at first sight. More of a symbolic march this second march was to help raise awareness and unify the people to stand up for voting rights. 2,500 people accompanied King on this march along with many different races. The fight for freedom by African Americans was starting to make an impression on people of all races. White

Daniel 3 men and women along with Latino and many other races and nationalities began to show support and march alongside King and others (Thornton III). After awareness of this issue and what was being done about it spread interest in joining and supporting the fight for African American rights. Martin Luther King Jr. prepared a third march starting at Brown Chapel. Joining him were 8,000 supporters willing to spend 6 days traveling to the capital. Moral was much higher on this trip due to the fact that President Johnson granted rights to the marchers that no police force can turn them away. Previous actions by the police force were pronounced unconstitutional, breaking the first amendment right which included the right to peaceful protest and right to assemble. Knowing that this march may be successful, people joined at every stop in Kings travels to the destination. By March, 25 before reaching the capital building 25,000 people were alongside King and other leaders! Once reaching the building King gave one of his most famous speeches titled How long, Not long. The crowd exploded as this shot yet powerful speech was heard nationwide (Rabin). The Selma-Montgomery Marches had a lasting impact on this country as a whole. Still to this day the action of leaders present for this march, along with every single person involved has helped change our nation. These marches led to the ratification of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Kumar). These leaders have progressed to long battle for equality for all races. These pioneers give hope for a bright future and more progress toward full freedom for all Americans. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated three years later on April 4th, 1968. His persistence and dedication for a very worthy cause inspires many today including myself.

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Cozzens, Lisa. The Civil Rights Movement 1955-1968. 1998. 22 June.1998 http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/index.html Kumar, Sinu. The Struggle for Voting Rights. 1998. 2008. http://byways.org/stories/73679 National Parks Service. Selma-to-Montgomery Marches. 1991. 1991 http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/al4.htm Rabin, Jack. Collection of Alabama Civil Rights Movement. 2011. July 2011. http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/digital/rabin/march.html Thornton III, J. Mills. Selma to Montgomery Marches. 14 March, 2007. 9 January, 2012. http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1114