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.
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