60th Anniversary of the Voting Right's Act

 

SELMA, AL – Alabama leaders and people of all ages will gather in Selma tomorrow, Wednesday, August 6, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. CDT at Civil Rights Memorial Park for “Fight for the Vote: 60th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.” This landmark event marks six decades since the Voting Rights Act was signed into law, honoring the legacy of those who fought for democracy and recommitting to the ongoing struggle for voting rights.

 

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 stands as a cornerstone of American democracy, born from the courage of civil rights activists who faced violence and intimidation in their quest for equality. The events of “Bloody Sunday” on March 7, 1965, when peaceful marchers were attacked on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, shocked the nation and galvanized support for federal voting rights protections. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Act into law on August 6, 1965, after nearly two centuries of struggle to secure the right to vote for all Americans. While the Act dismantled many barriers, the fight for voting rights continues, as recent years have seen renewed efforts to restrict access to the ballot. Tomorrow’s commemoration both honors the sacrifices of the past and calls attention to the ongoing need to defend and expand voting rights for future generations.

 

The “Fight for the Vote” event will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, August 6, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. CDT at Selma’s Civil Rights Memorial Park. Those joining in this celebration and recommitment to voting rights include Foot Soldiers and other leaders who fought on the front lines to secure voting rights for Americans. The program features live music, entertainment, and food; free school and arts supplies for children; youth performances; and prize drawings, including $500 awards and other prizes. The event is designed to be both a commemoration and a community celebration, bringing together generations to reflect on the past and energize the ongoing movement for justice.

 

This commemoration is made possible by a broad and diverse coalition of organizations, including Transform Alabama, Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, Southern Poverty Law Center, Alabama New South Coalition, S.O.S. Movement for Justice and Democracy, The Ordinary People’s Society, South Alabama Black Women’s Roundtable, Black Voters Matter, Selma Center for Nonviolence, Foot Soldiers Park, Alabama Democratic Conference, Rev Up Alabama, Whom It Concerns, Lift Our Vote, ACLU, ACIJ, Alabama Coalition on Black Civic Participation, The Democracy Centers, and the National Voting Rights Museum. The speaker lineup includes original Foot Soldiers and other pivotal figures from the 1965 movement, leaders of sponsoring organizations, national civil rights leaders, youth advocates, and elected officials at every level. Congresswoman Terri Sewell and Congressman Shomari Figures have been invited to participate.

 

The event’s location at Civil Rights Memorial Park, adjacent to the Edmund Pettus Bridge, is deeply symbolic. The bridge, once the site of brutal attacks on peaceful marchers, has become a national symbol of courage, sacrifice, and the ongoing fight for justice. Hosting the commemoration at this historic site creates a powerful connection between the sacrifices of the past and the continued struggle for voting rights today. Media coverage is welcomed, and all are encouraged to attend, honor the legacy of the Voting Rights Act, and stand together for democracy.