Nation Commemorates 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday with Calls for Renewed Civil Rights Protection.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) joined civil rights organizations and political leaders across the United States this week to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the pivotal 1965 civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, which helped secure voting rights for Black Americans. As the nation reflects on this significant moment in American history, CAIR has issued a renewed call for civil rights protection in response to what many activists describe as modern challenges to voting access and civil liberties.
The anniversary on March 7, 2025, arrives as civil rights advocates express concern about what they view as a decline in voting rights protections and efforts to restrict the teaching of Black history in certain states. The commemoration features various events in Selma and throughout Alabama, including church services, panel discussions, and a symbolic reenactment of the historic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
"Sixty years ago, the foot soldiers of Selma shed blood on the Edmund Pettus Bridge to secure the sacred right to vote," said Christine Spain, Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party. "We honor their legacy not just with our words but also through our actions—by organizing, voting, and standing against injustice wherever it occurs."
The Historic March That Changed America
On March 7, 1965, around 600 civil rights protesters set out to march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, advocating for voting rights. Guided by civil rights leaders John Lewis and Hosea Williams, the peaceful demonstrators faced brutal violence when they reached Edmund Pettus Bridge, where Alabama state troopers and local police attacked them with billy clubs, whips, and tear gas.
The violence that day left many marchers seriously injured, including John Lewis, who suffered a skull fracture, and Amelia Boynton Robinson, a key march organizer who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Images of Boynton Robinson beaten unconscious on the bridge appeared on front pages worldwide, galvanizing support for the civil rights movement.
"The visual spectacle of violence directed at nonviolent protesters is what stirred this country," said Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. This human rights organization advocates for an end to mass incarceration. The televised brutality appalled the nation by revealing "the violence of Jim Crow and the resistance to integration."
A Turning Point for Voting Rights
The events of Bloody Sunday marked a pivotal moment in American history. The shocking images of peaceful protesters being brutally attacked sparked national outrage and drew international attention. President Lyndon B. Johnson met with Alabama Governor George Wallace just days after the incident to discuss the civil rights situation in Alabama.
On March 15, 1965, Johnson delivered a pivotal speech to a joint session of Congress, introducing a bill that would later become the Voting Rights Act. In that speech, Johnson famously declared, "Their cause must be our cause, too, because it is not just Black Americans; it is all of us who must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice. And we shall prevail."
The Voting Rights Act, signed into law on August 6, 1965, prohibited the suppression of voting rights based on race. This landmark legislation marked a significant victory for the civil rights movement and fundamentally transformed the political landscape of the United States.
Contemporary Concerns About Civil Rights
CAIR, which describes itself as dedicated to protecting the civil rights of all Americans, regardless of their faith, has joined other civil rights organizations in voicing concerns about what they perceive as modern threats to voting rights and civil liberties.
"CAIR supports domestic policies that uphold civil rights, promote diversity, and ensure freedom of religion," the organization states on its website. "CAIR opposes domestic policies that restrict civil rights, permit racial, ethnic, or religious profiling, violate due process, or hinder Muslims and others from fully participating in American civic life."
The commemoration of the 60th anniversary arrives at a time when many civil rights advocates are concerned about what they see as efforts to roll back some of the gains made during the civil rights era.
"We are currently facing ongoing attacks from the new administration and members of Congress who claim that our history—particularly the history of Black individuals and communities of color in this country—is trivial and not deserving of being told," stated Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center and SPLC Action Fund.
Bipartisan Reflections on Selma's Legacy
The anniversary has prompted reflections from political leaders across the spectrum. U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) connected the civil rights struggle to America's founding principles.
"As an Alabamian, I have always felt the struggle to honor Thomas Jefferson's assertion in the Declaration of Independence that 'all men are created equal, and that their Creator endows them with certain unalienable rights'—which inspired the Civil Rights Movement—was immediate to me," Britt wrote in an essay for The Ripon Forum.
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) drew parallels between the determination of civil rights activists and today's political challenges. "I hope voters reflect on John [Lewis] and the Selma marchers, who were just months away from achieving their dreams of full voting rights. Through persistent action and engagement, change can happen in our country. It can occur much more quickly than we think," Coons stated.
Commemorative Events Across Alabama
Numerous commemorative events are taking place across Alabama this weekend. On Friday, U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams led a wreath-laying ceremony with the Southern Poverty Law Center at the Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery to honor John Lewis.
On Sunday, Senator Raphael Warnock will deliver a sermon at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma before crowds reenact the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. More than 40 members of Congress are participating in a three-day pilgrimage organized by the Faith & Politics Institute, which includes visits to historic sites in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma.
"It genuinely requires reflecting on the past while also looking toward the future," stated Robert Traynham, president and CEO of the nonpartisan Faith & Politics Institute. "The 60th anniversary honors the legacy and influence of these individuals, similar to what these leaders achieved 60 years ago. However, it's also about how we can take those lessons learned and apply their significant impact 60 years ago to today's context."
Personal Connections to History
The anniversary events also include descendants of civil rights veterans and some of the original marchers who are still alive to share their experiences. One such participant was Lynda Blackmon Lowery, who, at only 14 years old, became the youngest participant in the Selma March.
Lowery, who needed seven stitches for a cut above her right eye and 28 stitches on the back of her head after being assaulted by police during the march, recently spoke to students at Sacred Heart Greenwich about her experiences. Born in Selma in 1950, Lowery's life story reflects the personal impact of segregation—her mother passed away when Lowery was seven after being denied medical care because of racial discrimination.
The Strategic Importance of Nonviolent Protest
The Selma march showcased the strategic use of nonviolent protest to bring about political change. After the death of activist Jimmie Lee Jackson, who was shot by a state trooper during a peaceful march in nearby Marion, Alabama, civil rights leaders encountered a community filled with anger and sorrow.
James Bevel, who led the SCLC's Selma voting rights movement, called for a march from Selma to Montgomery to channel that emotion into a nonviolent purpose. The march aimed to attract national attention to the ongoing violations of constitutional rights and urge Governor George Wallace to protect Black registrants attempting to vote.
Andrew Young, now 92, recalled the moments leading up to the first Selma to Montgomery March: "I prayed over them to get the march started. I prayed for safety. I prayed for courage. I prayed for the troopers, and I prayed for George Wallace. I prayed that these people would understand that we're all brothers and American citizens, and this is a right for which we have fought and died for many years."
Young, who strategically positioned himself at the back of the march to avoid arrest, reflected on the power of nonviolent resistance: "We always felt that we needed the court's support for what we were doing. But the real power lay in the marching. The power was in the willingness to endure the suffering. And take it."
The Continuing Struggle for Civil Rights
As the nation commemorates the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, many civil rights advocates emphasize that the work begun in Selma continues today. Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell, co-host of the congressional pilgrimage, described the commemoration as an opportunity to reflect on American history and inspire people to protect democracy.
"What happened on Bloody Sunday is worthy of remembering so that we will never forget it," she said. "We're still in the midst of this struggle."
CAIR's involvement in the commemoration reflects its self-described mission as "a natural ally of groups, religious or secular, that advocate justice and human rights in America and around the world." The organization has positioned itself as continuing the civil rights tradition by fighting discrimination and advocating for equal treatment under the law.
As Lori Saroya of CAIR-Minnesota stated, "Almost every positive social advancement in this country has stemmed from the struggles of minority groups. I truly believe that CAIR's efforts will be acknowledged as a catalyst for positive social change."
The 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday serves as a reminder of a pivotal moment in American history and calls for ensuring that all Americans can exercise their constitutional rights. As the nation reflects on the courage of those who marched in Selma six decades ago, the commemoration emphasizes the importance of protecting civil rights and voting access for all citizens.