Thousands march to honor the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday

Slideshow: Photos by Morgan Ealy

SELMA, ALA. – Bloody Sunday is remembered as one of the most remarkable days in civil rights history.  

Bloody Sunday occurred in March of 1965, when Martin Luther King Jr., John Robert Lewis and hundreds of others marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, to protest for voting rights for Blacks. 

“We can’t let anybody take us back to the days when we could not vote,” said Frances Henderson, an attendee of the 60th anniversary of the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee. 

Thousands gathered from across the country to honor this significant day.

“I did it for mine and everybody’s civil rights and to vote,” Henderson said. “I wanted to make an impression because that was very important to me.” 

Henderson, who went to school in Selma when she was younger, travelled from Wetumpka, Alabama, to march in the jubilee and has marched in honor of Bloody Sunday for the past 10 years.  

“I certainly enjoyed it,” Henderson said. “I have been coming here since the 50th, and I wouldn’t have missed the 60th, for nothing. 

“I'm going to have to keep pushing and telling all the young people in my family that we have to keep fighting for our freedom and equality.” 

On the orginal Bloody Sunday, many were brutally beaten and attacked by tear gas after refusing to listen to law enforcement's commands to leave the bridge.  

However, they remained on the bridge, standing up for voting rights and equality, ultimately leading to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, prohibiting racial discrimination during voting.  

“I remember those days before the movement when we had the colored drinking fountains,” Henderson said. “You young people don’t identify with that or anything we went through when we started off in segregated schools. 

“We want to go forward, not backward, so I want them to continue to fight and work together. We’re not going to be able to do anything if we can’t work together.” 

Renee Stephens, a middle school teacher of 27 years, received her master’s degree from Troy University. 

Stephens attended the 60th anniversary jubilee to remember those who gave up so much for the country to be where it is today.  

“It’s so significant to keep this alive,” Stephens said. “It's so important to see whites and blacks and all races together for one cause and one purpose. 

“To be here, to live it and to be a part of it means we can do anything. They did it long ago, and it’s a great thing to see we’re still doing that.” 

Stephens shared the appreciation she has for her current platform as a teacher because of the opportunities it provides for her to pour knowledge into her students. 

“No matter what things look like, it’s not all lost,” Stephens said. “It's personally impacted my life because to be able to instill this same kind of spirit in the kids I teach, to let them know it is important, and not only important, but we still can do it.” 

The cold and rainy weather didn’t stop everyone from coming to march. 

“We can still be one voice,” Stephens said. “We might have different thoughts and things, but we can still do good to humankind.  

“Even though it seems like there’s no use, we still can show them, inspire them and instill in them to believe that as a people, we can.” 

Kalla Etheredge, who is currently running for city council in Mobile, Alabama, attended the 60th jubilee with her mother and daughter for the first time.  

Etheredge shared how her desire to enhance the current generation pushed her to run for city council and march for Bloody Sunday.  

“We as a people have to come together and conquer,” Etheredge said. “If we let our values diminish our rights and anything when it comes to our humanity, then we’re losing ourselves. 

“It’s a very humbling moment to really think about the name Bloody Sunday because it’s deeper than the surface level. Our people’s blood, sweat and tears run into this bridge, so now we’re crossing it, and it’s like we’re having to carry the torch.” 

Etheredge believed it was important for her daughter to march with her and her mother to set the example for the future generation. 

“I felt like it was so important for my daughter to watch me and my mom walk across the bridge together, so she knows she has a torch to carry,” Etheredge said. “I wanted us to experience something that was going to be beneficial, and honestly, it was something like no other.” 

Etheredge described what it was like to cross the same bridge as those before her time. 

“When you’re standing on the bridge, thinking this is where Martin Luther King and my ancestors walked, you can feel the energy,” Etherege said. “The atmosphere was electric, and I'm just so grateful to be a part of it. 

“Know your history, never accept defeat and educate yourself because knowledge is power.”