Family Fun Day, rally mark 60th anniversary of Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march
People from across the country spent the weekend in Montgomery to mark the 60th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery march for voting rights.
At Carver High School Saturday, a Family Fun Day and a Stars for Freedom Rally were held to remember the events of 1965 that led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act by President Lyndon Johnson. That march followed Bloody Sunday in Selma, where marchers had been attacked after crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge. After that day, another march was held a couple of weeks later which ended with a speech from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the steps of the Alabama Capitol.
Some people at the rally say it is important for today’s generation to know what happened 60 years ago.
“Half the time, they do not know what their ancestors did and what their ancestors had to go through for them to have the privileges that they have,” Christine Williams said.
Actress Gina Belafonte, the daughter of legendary performer Harry Belafonte, was one of the speakers at the rally.
“Though the laws have changed somewhat, the struggle has not ended. We are still fighting voter suppression, systemic racism and economic inequality. We are still marching for human rights for climate justice for the dignity of Black and Brown lives,” she said.
Those thoughts were echoed at the Family Fun Day, where thoughts were on the children.
