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Key Events of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March

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In March 1965, a significant march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, aimed to secure voting rights for African Americans faced violent opposition from law enforcement. The pivotal moment known as 'Bloody Sunday' occurred on March 7, when police brutality resulted in injuries to many, including future Congressman John Lewis. The march, which covered approximately 50 miles, ultimately led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 being signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on August 6 of that year. The event is commemorated annually, highlighting its lasting impact on civil rights in the United States.

Key Details: • March 7, 1965: 'Bloody Sunday' where police attacked marchers. • March 21, 1965: Approximately 3,200 marchers set off from Selma with federal protection. • March 25, 1965: Marchers reached Montgomery with numbers swelling to about 25,000. • August 6, 1965: Voting Rights Act signed into law by President Johnson.

civil-rights history voting-rights march bloody-sunday

People & Organizations

Martin Luther King Jr.Montgomery, AlabamaNational Trust for Historic PreservationUS Justice DepartmentJohn LewisJames ReebLyndon JohnsonGeorge C. WallaceSelma, AlabamaEdmund Pettus Bridge

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