People in Marion commemorate historic hometown events

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

People in Marion are commemorating the historic events that happened in their hometown 60 years ago — events that would eventually lead to Bloody Sunday — the Selma to Montgomery march — and the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

Voting rights martyr Jimmie Lee Jackson was shot by a state trooper on February 18th, 1965.

“There are some events that take place that are so important that you have to honor and respect the significance of it. Today is one of those days,” said Marion resident Donald Bennett.

The shooting happened after a group of peaceful protesters were attacked during a night march to the county jail — following a mass meeting at Zion Church.

The protest was organized in response to the arrest of the Rev. James Orange — who had been working to get more people involved in the movement — and registered to vote.

“There was a huge melee and events happened. And Jimmie Lee Jackson was shot,” Bennett said.

Jackson died eight days later — at Good Samaritan Hospital in Selma.

Sunday at 2pm — Marion Baptist Academy hosts the annual Jimmie Lee Jackson Day program. Mrs. Vera Booker, the nurse who tended to Jackson at Good Samaritan Hospital is the guest speaker.

Jackson’s death sparked the idea for a march to Montgomery for voting rights.

“It’s significant. Significant to Marion, significant to the Black Belt and to the country,” said Bennett.

“It was Marion that spawned that march,” said Albert Turner, Jr.

“It was Marion that was in the leadership of that march. And it was Marion that many of our people were on that bridge that fateful Sunday, what they call now Bloody Sunday.”

This week’s events also include — a two-part bike ride from Marion to Selma — and then from Selma to Montgomery.