It’s March, and if you’re reading
NCC’s common reading by the same name, March,
do you know that there are a few important commemorative dates in the month
of March?
For instance, last week, March 7,
marked the 51st anniversary of the first historic civil rights march
from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. On that day activists, led by Josea Williams
and John Lewis,
co-author of the book, March,
began their non-violent demonstration marching to the capital of Alabama to
meet with Governor George Wallace. They were protesting attempts to prevent
African-Americans from exercising their right to vote. The marchers did not get
very far that day. They were stopped on the now-famous Edmund Pettus Bridge by
armed state troopers who ordered them to turn around. The state troopers then
stormed the protesters, injuring dozens, including John Lewis, who was clubbed
unconscious. The day became known as “Bloody Sunday.”
Commemorative dates continue in
March. March 21 will mark the 51st anniversary of the third attempt
to march from Selma to Montgomery, this time with Martin Luther King leading
the way. This march was successful and was completed 4 days later on March 25, when
over 3,000 marchers listened to a rousing speech by Dr. King in Montgomery.
If you haven’t already done so,
pick up a copy of March and read
about this extremely important time in U.S. history and learn about an issue
that is still relevant today: Civil Rights.
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