by Patricia Britt
The Saturday 2015 50th anniversary of the Selma March to Montgomery, Alabama our elders embarked on after being rocked by the horrors of Birmingham, and the entire state's oppression on the community compounding yearly, they mobilized responsively, and responsibly to effect voting rights across the country to defend their lives with words of this democracy, because Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr felt the people deserved equality with the urgency of now, and was brave enough, and wise enough to eventually lead the marchers across the bridge with the advance work of Dianne Nash, and many others. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in August as a result of the completion of the March 7, 1965 Selma March. In his documented acquaintance with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. he seemed to develop a kinship, with mutual respect.
Congressman John Lewis said, "Our country would never ever be the same after what happened on this bridge (Edmund Pettus Bridge). Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was Rev. John Lewis's mentor who endured the violent attacks, slings, and arrows that left him near death. He survived to enlighten the world with the truth of what a beloved community can achieve, cruelty can undermine, and delay yet with soul power can be overcome. He evoked the Spirit of Jimmy Lee Jackson. A man who protected women at all costs.
I had the privilege of seeing Congressman John Lewis at the annual Dr. William G. Anderson Lecture Series : Slavery to Freedom ( See http://com.msu.edu/stf ). Other 2015 guests were Harry Belafonte, and Rev. Al Sharpton (MSNBC Politics Nation, NAN.org). The common thread was the importance of voting that brought about change.
Dr. Anderson led the Albany Movement during the symphony of the Civil Rights Struggle. Learn more at http://www.thekingcenter.org/archive/theme/926
Congressman John Lewis Introduced the President of the United States who quoted Isaiah, denoted the power of "we the people", "we shall overcome," "yes we can" in short we are one.
There is always an annual traditional sanctioned Selma March on Sunday to commemorate the March 7, 1965 march.
There is always an annual traditional sanctioned Selma March on Sunday to commemorate the March 7, 1965 march.
The movie Selma directed by Ava DuVernay is a testament to Congressman John Lewis, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., men of God, beloved women, a city, and a nation.
Song : Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around by Joan Baez
www.rockthevote.org
http://nvrmi.com
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/lew0bio-1
http://www.civilrights.org/voting-rights/vra
http://www.civilrights.org/resources/civilrights101/chronology.html
http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Wind-A-Memoir-Movement/dp/0156007088
https://www.google.com/search?q=voting+rights+agencies&rlz=1C1AVNC_enUS609US609&oq=voting+rights+agencies&aqs=chrome..69i57.7339j0j4&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8
