Marchers Spend the Night at Macedonia Missionaries in Montgomery
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Marchers reenacting the historic Selma to Montgomery march are sleeping at a church in Montgomery tonight after walking 12 miles today. About 100 marchers set out to retrace the footsteps of those who marched 50 years ago. Alabama News Network was on the only tv station following them.
A group of marchers determined to reenact the historic Selma to Montgomery march left Selma Monday morning.
“The best part is just doing honor to the people who marched in 65 and thinking about how it was for them,” said Paul Shaffer.
Shaffer came to Selma from Memphis, Tennessee.
“In memory and in honor of my father who marched in the original march back in 1965 as a 40-year-old pastor from Los Angeles.
Others also had personal ties to original march.
“My mom was here on the second call from Martin Luther King and she’s no longer with us,” said Lois Daniels Ingram. “My dad said why are you leaving five kids and my mom said because of those five kids. She wanted things to change.”
Younger marchers are also taking part in the reenactment. Molly Walsh is from Colorado.
“There’s a class in our school that’s been studying black American history since the beginning of the year and we heard about the march and decided to come.”
After marching 12 miles on Monday, the group made their way to Macedonia Missionaries Church in Montgomery, where they’ll stay each night. A hot meal is prepared for them and they’re able to take showers. Marchers admit those in 1965 had it worse than they do.
“My feet are a little sore but I’m fine,” Walsh said. “It’s worth it.”
And many of them say they don’t feel physical pain at all.
“I told friends I was going to march for 10 miles and I don’t exercise and they were like, okay, it’s going to be rough. But I didn’t get tired. My feet didn’t get tired,” said Renee Franklin of St. Louis.
The marchers reenacting the Selma to Montgomery march are wearing tennis shoes, sweats, very comfortable clothing. Those who marched in 1965 were in their Sunday best, which no doubt, made that walk more difficult for them.
The marchers expect to make it into Montgomery on Thursday. They’ll hold a rally on the steps of the state capital Friday at one.
