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The Death of Jimmie Lee Jackson
The reason why Bloody Sunday happened, was the protest of activist Jimmie Lee Jackson's death. He was shot during a protest in Marion, Perry County. He later died on February 26, 1965. -
James Bevel Speech
During the Memorial for Jimmie Lee Jackson, James Bevel stated that he wanted blacks to follow the example of Queen Ester, who risked her life by going to the King of Persia to request for her people. Bevel wanted blacks to march to Montgomery to demand protection from Gov. George C. Wallace. Days later, Martin Luther King Jr. wanted to help march to Selma, Montgomery on March 7, 1965 to protest for Jackson's death and for voting rights. -
Governor Wallace
Governor Wallace decided he wanted to direct the Alabama State Troopers to stop the march at once after they marchers crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Wilson Baker, Selma's public safety directer, refused to let his men participate with the troopers because he feared of a brutal attack on the marchers. Later, his request to stop the march without any violence, was refused by the mayor, Joe Smitherman -
Marching Day
On this day, state troopers wait at the end of the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the marchers. -
Marchers Getting Ready
Marchers left Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church at 1:40 p.m., but then stopped by Wilson Baker, making them resemble for the march because of ¨rules¨. They had to stand two‑by‑two, five feet apart when marching. They then set off at 2:18 p.m., going down south on Sylvan Street,to Alabama Avenue, then west on Alabama to Broad Street, and finally south across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. -
Brutal Attack
Major Cloud announced that the governor had forbidden the march and gave marchers two minutes to turn back. The marchers did not listen, then major sent troopers to advance. The troopers pushed the marchers with clubs to get them back, but that didn't work. It got violent. They deployed 40 canisters of tear gas, 12 cans of smoke, and 8 cans of nausea. They beat, attacked, charged on horseback, and chased the marchers back over the bridge. -
Ambulance
Then the sheriffs got back and gave space for the ambulance to get through and take the marches to the only two black hospitals in the area. The television violence shocked the nation. Priests, ministers, nuns, rabbis, labor leaders, students, and citizens came to help support the march. Two marches came after that and the marcher finally reached Montgomery on March 25. -
Voting Rights Bill
When reached Montgomery, Dr. King gave a speech to the marchers. "They told us we wouldn't get here.... But all the world today knows that we are here." Finally, The Voting Rights Bill that King, Lewis, and so many other civil rights leaders had hoped to have, was signed into law August 6, 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson
