Obama in Selma 50 years after Bloody Sunday
Today is a very historic day! US President Barack Obama delivered a speech in Selma, Alabama to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’ which happened in March 1965, when security forces attacked demonstrators campaigning for voting rights. The Marchers had given courage to millions, Mr.Obama said.
The first Lady, Malia, Sasha, their grandmother Marian Robinson and about 100 members of Congress were in attendance. Mr.Obama said, because of what they did, the doors of opportunity swung open not just for African Americans but every American. He later took a walk across the Pettus Bridge where the violence took place.
The police beat and used tear gas on protestors as they attempted to make their way over the crossing on 7th March. A march from Selma to Montgomery and that event, helped build the momentum for approval of the voting rights act by Congress and also remove all barriers preventing African Americans from registering as voters.Georgia Congressman John Lewis who was among the injured in the violence 50 years ago, also addressed the crowd thanking them for marching across the bridge on Bloody Sunday. However, 600 people marched into history and Mr. Lewis encouraged the public to keep fighting for equal rights for all Americans.
Credit:Pashington Post/SKY/CNN News
