Monday, January 19, 2009

"I Was There"


Martha Scott is among hundreds who "were there" and marched from Selma to Montgomery during the 1965 voting rights struggle. Posted is her proclamation of that fact on the "I Was There" Wall of the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma.

Hundreds of notes testify to the parts played by people from all across the United States in the movement led by by the late Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King led voting rights efforts in Selma and other towns in the South during the 1960s, and he is most noted locally for leading the Selma-to-Montgomery March in 1965. Today is a national holiday recognizing King's birthday.

...And just to review: King did not lead the infamous "Bloody Sunday" March as I read recently in a newspaper. He did return to Selma later to lead the Selma-to-Montgomery March that was protected by federal troops. Also, no one died on "Bloody Sunday." While one national television news reporter today made reference to some of the "survivors of Bloody Sunday," I hope he wasn't inferring that others did not survive. A number of people were injured, however, and survived their injuries.

3 comments:

Sally said...

Really great post - history that cannot be forgotten!
Today was such a signofocant day for everyone...I saw the lady from Selma on TV.

PJ said...

For a moving account of "Bloody Sunday" look up John Lewis's account on NPR. It was one of the most touching stories about the civil right s movement I've heard.

Janet said...

Hi Sally, I didn't see a lady from Selma on TV. How interesting!

Thanks for the info, PJ.