The Selma to Montgomery March took place in March of 1965

Local demonstrators mounted a protest against Alabama's Jim Crow laws, which made it nearly impossible for African Americans to vote.

The marchers sought passage of a national law that would secure equal voting rights for African Americans.

A city with overt institutional racism, Selma, Alabama was a stronghold of segregation.

In 1961 only 156 out of 15,000 African Americans were registered to vote.

Late in 1964, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) decided to make Selma its focus.

Many protests were staged, several of which ended in violence and arrest.

Another, on February 16, ended in the death of marcher Jimmie Lee Jackson

Click on picture to view clip on bloody Sunday

Bloody Sunday by U2 I can’t believe the news today Oh, I can’t close my eyes and make it go away

How long...How long must we sing this song? How long? how long...’cause tonight...we can be as one Tonight...

Broken bottles under children’s feetBodies strewn across the dead end streetBut I won’t heed the battle call It puts my back upPuts my back up against the wallSunday, bloody Sunday

And the battle’s just begun There’s many lost, but tell me who has wonThe trench is dug within our hearts And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart Sunday, bloody Sunday

How long...How long must we sing this song? How long? how long...’cause tonight...we can be as one

Wipe the tears from your eyesWipe your tears awaySunday, bloody Sunday

And it’s true we are immune When fact is fiction and TV realityAnd today the millions cry We eat and drink while tomorrow they dieThe real battle yet begun (Sunday, bloody Sunday)To claim the victory Jesus won Sunday bloody Sunday

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