Montgomery to Selma March Reenactment Ends; New Battles Begin

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By Jessica Gertler

Story Created: Mar 8, 2013 at 7:50 PM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 8, 2013 at 7:50 PM CDT

Hundreds of people have been reenacting the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery this week. The journey ended today in Montgomery. Marchers say this year, it's more than reliving a memory. They say there are new bridges to cross.

Each and every step relives an emotion. A feeling of bravery. Of strength. Of triumph.

The same feeling thousands experienced in 1965 when Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists led a march from Selma to the steps of the capitol.

Annie Pearl Avery was among those demonstrators.

"What it does is bring back a lot of memories of my friends who participated and are gone now," says Avery.

A group reenacting the march finished the last leg Friday morning. Even though Avery uses a walker, she joined in hoping to bring attention to the challenge to a portion of the Voting Rights Act that the U.S. Supreme Court heard last week.

"Some are calling it unconstitutional," says Avery. "I was there last week in Washington."

The journey ended on the capitol steps. Lawmakers and activist groups addressed the crowd not only calling light to racial issues, but immigration and gay rights.

"We are in a moment and a movement and a big part of that is LBGT rights," says marcher Holly Brooks.

"The African American community was criminalized in the 60s, and the immigrant community is criminalized today in Alabama," says marcher Artuto Bruciga.

More than 25,000 people marched in 1965, and today, there were a couple hundred people. Marchers say it was a smaller turnout than last year.

 
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