There were three marches of Selma. Martin Luther King Jr. tried three times to free the African American voting rights. The first march was known as "Bloody Sunday."
"I wish the bastard would try to come in my house."
Next time we march," he said, "we may have to keep going when we get to Montgomery. We may have to go on to Washington."
The first March attempt to march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama. But the march was bombarded by Alabama State troopers. The policeman beat and killed the African American peaceful protestors. The violence gave the blacks more courage and anger to fifill the march.
As the marches get over the bridge and are half way down looking at the Alabama State Troopers. Martin Luther King Jr. and the other drop to their knees and begin to prayer. King is waiting for guidance from God to tell him whether to finish the march or to call it off. King decides, with his guidance, to call it off.
In Kings final March to reach the capital of Montgomery. Martin Luther King decided to ask many religious people to join the cause. White pastors and other religious people joined King in his uprising. They all reach the end of their 54 mile journey to the capital. The cause they faced was overcome by the love and compassion during the non violent March.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by Lyndon B. Johnson. The act provides the voting rights for African American men. After the Selma Marches the African Americans were granted what they wanted. The act states, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude" (Amendment 15.)
"The first 10 or 20 Negroes were swept to the ground screaming, arms and legs flying and packs and bags went skittering across the grassy divider strip and on to the pavement on both sides,” The Times wrote. “Those still on their feet retreated. The troopers continued pushing, using both the force of their bodies and the prodding of their nightsticks.”
“Negroes lay on the floors and chairs, many weeping and moaning. A girl in red slacks was carried from the house screaming.” Amelia Boynton lay semiconscious on a table. “From the hospital came a report that the victims had suffered fractures of ribs, heads, arms and legs, in addition to cuts and bruises.”
The Salt March happened on March 12,1930. A man named Mohandas Gandhi was the leader of the protest. Their goal was the travel to the sea and collect salt. 78 members of the march traveled 241 miles. The journey took 24 days. Connected to the Marches of Selma.
"We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always March ahead. We cannot turn back." - Martin Luther King Jr.
Nonviolence marches are seen to work because they are filled with love and love always overcomes negativity.
Citations:
History.com Staff. "Selma to Montgomery March." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 12 Jan. 2017.
Lovelace, William. "Black History Month: Selma-to-Montgomery Marches." ABC News. ABC News Network, 01 Feb. 2012. Web. 12 Jan. 2017.
Banks, Sandra. "50 Years after the March of Selma." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 12 Jan. 2017.
ChaRuut, The House of. "Selma to Montgomery Historic Trail." The Sights and Sites of America. Hank N Dale, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2017
Network, The Learning. "March 7, 1965 | Civil Rights Marchers Attacked in Selma." The New York Times. New York Times Company, 7 Mar. 2012. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.
Novin, Fatemeh. "Ghandi's Salt March, 1930 - Lessons - TES Teach." TES Teach with Blendspace. Tes Teach, n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2017.
Morse, JSB. "Jim Crow Was Bad, but the Civil Rights Act Is Worse." Being Libertarian. Being Libertaian, 26 Nov. 2016. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.
Bgathany@al.com, Bob Gathany |. "Newly Discovered Vintage Photos of 1965 Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights March." AL.com. AL.com Vintage, 21 Mar. 2016. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.
Times, Seattle. "The Seattle Times | Martin Luther King Jr." The Seattle Times | Martin Luther King Jr. The Seattle Company, 2011. Web. 16 Jan. 2017.
Reed, Rob. "Alabama Police Use Gas and Clubs to Rout Negroes." Nytimes.com. The New York Times, 2010. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.
Credits:
History.com Staff. "Selma to Montgomery March." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 12 Jan. 2017. Lovelace, William. "Black History Month: Selma-to-Montgomery Marches." ABC News. ABC News Network, 01 Feb. 2012. Web. 12 Jan. 2017. Banks, Sandra. "50 Years after the March of Selma." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 12 Jan. 2017. ChaRuut, The House of. "Selma to Montgomery Historic Trail." The Sights and Sites of America. Hank N Dale, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2017 Network, The Learning. "March 7, 1965 | Civil Rights Marchers Attacked in Selma." The New York Times. New York Times Company, 7 Mar. 2012. Web. 15 Jan. 2017. Novin, Fatemeh. "Ghandi's Salt March, 1930 - Lessons - TES Teach." TES Teach with Blendspace. Tes Teach, n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2017. Morse, JSB. "Jim Crow Was Bad, but the Civil Rights Act Is Worse." Being Libertarian. Being Libertaian, 26 Nov. 2016. Web. 15 Jan. 2017. Bgathany@al.com, Bob Gathany |. "Newly Discovered Vintage Photos of 1965 Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights March." AL.com. AL.com Vintage, 21 Mar. 2016. Web. 15 Jan. 2017. Times, Seattle. "The Seattle Times | Martin Luther King Jr." The Seattle Times | Martin Luther King Jr. The Seattle Company, 2011. Web. 16 Jan. 2017. Reed, Rob. "Alabama Police Use Gas and Clubs to Rout Negroes." Nytimes.com. The New York Times, 2010. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.