Hundreds and thousands of innocent people were killed in several different protests that occurred during the 1960’s. Many of those protests helped to shape the world into what it has become today. Marches were often organized by peace leaders, they, along with hundred of other African American protesters and leaders were beaten, killed, and even spent time in jail simply because they fought for their own human rights. A specific march that really stands out in world history is one of the Selma, Alabama marches known as “Bloody Sunday.” Bloody Sunday was significant because it helped the world to get a better look at how Alabama State troopers treated people of color, and it also helped to work towards the equal voting rights act of 1964.
The tragic events that occurred during the 1960’s were traumatizing to hundreds and thousands of human beings worldwide. Protest after protest, death after death, everything was so cruel and violent towards African Americans. Thousands of innocent colored people were killed for no valid reason, this led to furious African Americans, who followed the lead of Martin Luther King Jr and conducted nonviolent protests and marches. February twenty sixth 1965, protester Jimmy Lee Jackson was fatally shot and killed by Alabama state troopers, simply because he was a person of color at a nonviolent protest trying to protect his mother and grandfather from being brutally beaten by state troopers The tragic death of Jimmy lee Jackson, infuriated hundreds of African Americans, and they worked together to organize a nonviolent march.
The fifty four mile march from Selma to Montgomery took place March seventh, 1965 where over six hundred protesters gathered together. Unfortunately, the march was cut short when the protesters reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where state troopers, who were under the orders of Governor George Wallace, lined the bridge entrance, preventing the marchers from reaching their destination. State troopers violently attacked the protesters in attempt to prevent equal voting rights.
Protesters were given two minutes to turn back and start leading the march back in the opposite direction. When they refused to turn back, state troopers advanced forward, gassing, beating and verbally abusing the protesters as they continued their protest. All protesters stayed true to their word of nonviolent protest and attempted to flee the scene of gas filled air, but state troopers prevented most from leaving, beating them and pushing them to them ground. This tragic day is known as “Bloody Sunday.”
The state of Alabama was already infuriated before the events of “Bloody Sunday” due to the equal voting rights campaigns that have been created by local activist to make black voting a national concern. Alabama citizens did not agree with the idea of having equal voting rights with people of color, nor did the Alabama state troopers agree with it either. Since there were many different perspectives on the idea of equal voting among color, many of the white Alabama citizens and troopers were rude and sometimes even physically harmed people of color for no reason.
The events that occured before “Bloody Sunday.” which also caused anger to rise throughout the state of Alabama were; 1962 – 1963 Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) came to Selma to protest, putting the citizens of Selma on edge. October 7th, 1963 “Freedom Day.” Freedom day was the celebration of freedom, where hundreds of men,women and children gathered together to celebrate their lives. July 9th, 1964 a law was passed banning discussion of civil rights and voters. December 28th, 1964 “Project for an Alabama political freedom movement.” January 2nd, 1965 Martin Luther King Jr. begins Selma campaigns working towards equal voting rights. January 18th, 1965 brown chapel. Brown Chapel was a church that worked with African Americans, helping them with their protests. January 19th, 1965 Protesters return to Selma. January 22nd, 1965 the unprecedented teacher march took place. January 25th, 1965, King leads another Selma to Montgomery march. February 1st, 1965, King and Ralph Abernathy lead a protest. February 4th, 1965, Malcolm X speaks to a crowd at Brown Chapel church.
Several other events occurred leading up to “Bloody Sunday.” consisting of public speakings from the president to white americans coming together with African Americans to support black voting rights. These things angered not only racist Alabama citizens, but people around the world. These events led up to “Bloody Sunday” because it made white americans angry, causing them to take their feelings out on the people of color during their protests.
In response to “Bloody Sunday.” another march was organized to take place. The second march was led by Martin Luther King Jr. who led a large group of Americans, black and white, down the same path that was first marched on. Though, this march was also not a success. When King reached the bridge where the marchers were first originally stopped, he turned around and led the marchers back to Selma to ensure their safety. Kings actions caused many people to believe that he was a coward, and King found himself torn between the request of his less violent and civil people, or the demands of those ready to fight.
“Bloody Sunday.” helped people around the world see just how cruel Alabama state troopers were to people of color. It opened their eyes when the actions of hundreds of African American protesters being beaten at the Edmund Pettus Bridge was televised for everyone to see. Once the people of Alabama were able to see how African Americans were treated so badly for no reason, some citizens were outraged.
After the effects of “Bloody Sunday.” the president and the government worked together to work towards equal voting rights for people of all color. During the time congress was attempting to get the equal voting rights passed, another march was held, this time with Military enforcements protecting the marchers. “Bloody Sunday” angered Africans Americans everywhere, and even white americans who were working with African Americans to get equal voting rights.
The Alabama state troopers who attacked the peaceful protest marches were not punished, in fact, the same police who attacked the people at the first marched, attacked the protesters at the second march. The things that were done to help speak out about this was protesters and peace leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis, worked together to organize more peaceful protests and marches to signify that they were not going to stop until they get what they believe is right.
“Bloody Sunday” was a significant part of world history because it helped work towards equal voting rights, and signified that African Americans were not going to stop. They were not going to stop until people around the world understood that they are human too, and they do not deserve to be treated the way that they are being treated. It was also significant because it gave people around the world an example of how white officers treated African American protesters. It is important to never forget the events of “Bloody Sunday’ because if civil rights movements are forgotten then the world will take advantage of all the struggles and pain that African Americans went through during the 1960’s to help get the world to what it has become today.