‘Bloody Sunday’ 60th Anniversary marked in Selma with Remembrances, Concerns

Charles Mauldin was near the front of a line of voting rights marchers walking in pairs across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965. It was a day that would become infamous in American history as “Bloody Sunday,” a turning point in the fight for civil rights. The marchers, young and old, carried no weapons—only their determination to demand justice and equality. They knew the risks, but they also understood the necessity of their cause.

The marchers were protesting white officials’ refusal to allow Black Alabamians to register to vote, a systemic denial of rights that had persisted for generations. Black citizens faced impossible literacy tests, poll taxes, and outright intimidation at the hands of local authorities. Their frustration had reached a boiling point, especially after the killing of Jimmie Lee Jackson, a minister and voting rights organizer who was shot by a state trooper in nearby Marion. Jackson had been participating in a peaceful demonstration when his life was cut short, and his death became a rallying cry for action.

As the marchers reached the apex of the span over the Alabama River, they saw what awaited them: a line of state troopers, deputies, and men on horseback. The sight was chilling. The officers were armed with clubs, whips, and tear gas, prepared not to negotiate but to brutalize. The marchers knew they were walking into danger, yet they did not turn back. Their mission was clear—to reach Montgomery and demand justice from the state government.

After they approached, law enforcement gave a warning to disperse. The words were barely out of their mouths before they unleashed violence upon the peaceful demonstrators. Officers charged into the crowd, swinging clubs and firing tear gas canisters. Marchers were trampled under the hooves of horses, and the air filled with screams of pain and chaos. Charles Mauldin, along with his fellow activists, was beaten, shoved, and forced to retreat. The images of brutality were captured on national television, shocking the conscience of the nation.

For Mauldin and many others, this was more than just an attack on their bodies—it was an attack on their fundamental rights as American citizens. “This country was not a democracy for Black folks until that happened,” Mauldin later reflected. The struggle for voting rights was not just about casting a ballot; it was about dignity, freedom, and full participation in American society. The marchers had exposed the cruelty of segregation to the world, forcing the nation to confront its own hypocrisy.

The events of Bloody Sunday ignited a wave of support for the civil rights movement. President Lyndon B. Johnson, moved by the violence and public outcry, pushed for legislation that would become the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This landmark law prohibited racial discrimination in voting, ensuring that barriers like literacy tests and poll taxes could no longer be used to suppress Black voters. The sacrifices of Mauldin and his fellow marchers had not been in vain.

Speaking at the pulpit of Selma’s historic Tabernacle Baptist Church, the site of the first mass meeting of the voting rights movement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries acknowledged the impact of that fateful day. He declared that what happened in Selma changed the nation forever. The courage of those marchers forced America to reckon with its deep racial injustices, and it set the stage for future battles in the ongoing struggle for equality.

But even as they commemorated the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, Jeffries warned that the fight was far from over. “At this moment, faced with trouble on every side, we’ve got to press on,” he told the crowd, which included civil rights icon the Rev. Jesse Jackson, multiple members of Congress, and others gathered for the commemoration. The echoes of the past still resonate in today’s political climate, where voting rights continue to be challenged in new ways.

There are those who seek to roll back the hard-won gains of the civil rights movement. Efforts to impose restrictive voting laws, limit early voting, and redraw district maps in ways that disenfranchise minority voters have been on the rise. Jeffries spoke of the dangers of complacency and the necessity of vigilance. “Some want to whitewash our history,” he said, emphasizing the importance of remembering and learning from the past.

For Charles Mauldin and others who lived through that violent day, the memories remain vivid. The scars, both physical and emotional, are a testament to their sacrifice. They fought not just for themselves but for future generations who would have the right to vote without fear of violence or intimidation. Their actions paved the way for progress, but the work remains unfinished.

Each year, Selma serves as a reminder of the cost of justice. The annual commemorative march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge brings together people from all walks of life—young activists, seasoned civil rights leaders, and everyday citizens who refuse to let history be forgotten. The bridge itself stands as both a symbol of struggle and a beacon of hope.

Mauldin’s words reflect the ongoing reality of Black Americans still fighting to make democracy a concrete reality. The ideals of equality and justice remain aspirations that must be defended and strengthened. As long as barriers to voting exist, as long as racial discrimination lingers in any form, the fight must continue.

Bloody Sunday is not just a historical event; it is a call to action. The legacy of the marchers lives on in the movements for social justice that continue today. From Black Lives Matter protests to advocacy for fair voting laws, the spirit of Selma endures in the hearts of those who believe in a more just and equitable America.

The struggle for voting rights is the struggle for democracy itself. As Mauldin and his fellow marchers demonstrated in 1965, change requires sacrifice, persistence, and courage. And as leaders like Jeffries remind us, the fight is never truly over—it is our responsibility to carry it forward.