Bloody Sunday 1965
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (70694)
United States
May 3, 2023 9:27pm CST
One of the most important sites in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s is in the photo above. It is the Edmund Pettus Bridge over the Alabama River in Selma.
On March 7, 1965 an organized protest march was set to leave Selma and walk 54 miles to Alabama’s capital city of Montgomery. There, notorious segregationist governor George Wallace obstinately refused to abide by federal laws. Wallace refused to allow the march on the grounds that it would be dangerous for people walking on a busy highway as well as disruptive to commerce.
Undaunted, about 600 protesters started across the bridge named for a Confederate general and grand wizard of the Klan. At the bottom of the bridge, on the other side, were policemen and “deputized” citizens to keep the March from leaving Selma.
The “law” won. Protesters were beaten in front of video cameras. Later that night, three out-of-town ministers were beaten by locals. One of them, a 38-year-old Universal Unitarian minister named James Reeb, died from his injuries.
There are lots of “Bloody Sunday” designations for terrible violence throughout history. This one is part of George Wallace’s shame in the 60s.
11 people like this
8 responses
@FourWalls (70694)
• United States
4 May 23
Maybe it’s because I live here and grew up in the 60s, but we’ve seemingly led the parade of dark pages.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (70694)
• United States
4 May 23
@LadyDuck — today (May 4) is the 53rd anniversary of the Kent State shootings, where National Guard troops fired into a crowd of war protesters and killed four. Yeah, people are people regardless of nationality, and we seem to have a nasty streak in us. 
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472433)
• Switzerland
4 May 23
@FourWalls - When I look back at my native country I see that we also had very dark pages. I was a teenager in the late 60 and so much violence between left and right groups and finally those killed were young policemen.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (70694)
• United States
4 May 23
What I can’t believe is that Wallace ran for president twice, as if he had support outside of Alabama.
It was a privilege to walk across that bridge this evening.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (40140)
•
4 May 23
Judy, we as a nation are going backwards. Those times were tragic and terrible. I was a very young girl and it impressed even me. So much hate. Just like it is now, once again. So much hate, all over again.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (82052)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 May 23
Had not heard this before, Thanks for the info and what a tragic happening for the protesters. I never understand such beatings it just isn't right,
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (70694)
• United States
5 May 23
The struggle was horrible. The violence was unbelievable, and most went unpunished because of “all-white” juries.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (105879)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
4 May 23
I do remember that talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey produced a movie based on that tragic incident.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (70694)
• United States
4 May 23
Those are the words you CAN say here. There are a lot of other words not allowed by myLot that would be appropriate, too.
2 people like this
@Dena91 (16797)
• United States
4 May 23
@FourWalls I had to edit myself when typing....glad I did it right for here.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (35964)
•
13 May 23
Yes, sadly some kind of tragic violence has existed somewhere since the beginning of time. It's a shame this site is recognized for its violence, yet another product of the nation's Civil War albeit many years later. 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (70694)
• United States
13 May 23
True. The Klan was formed by southern Democrats after the civil war. They’re part of the ugly legacy…although they aren’t Democrats anymore.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35964)
•
13 May 23
@FourWalls The Klan are disowned by everyone. In my view, they have no political affiliation although are often referred to as white supremacists by liberals seeking to gain political points. Or used by media anchors as a way to denounce Americans who disagree with their current agenda. It is used much like the word racist these days, as in "you are racist for having a differing viewpoint than mine."
I would also say anyone who supports the Klan are filled with hatred, misguided in their views, and racist. That would be an apt usage of that term for sure.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (70694)
• United States
4 May 23
The photo of a woman lying on the bridge, bloodied, seemed to turn the tide of interest in America towards the civil rights movement. And it was in black and white, so the full effect was not even there!
@LindaOHio (183840)
• United States
4 May 23
What a very special bridge to see. It amazed me that George Wallace ran for President.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (70694)
• United States
4 May 23
TWICE he ran (68 and 72). I’m sorry the guy got shot and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair, but if ever there was walking pond sludge, it was George Wallace.
1 person likes this
