MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Today, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) marks the 60th anniversary of the Selma Bridge Crossing. This historic event celebrates the lives and contributions of civil rights activists and martyrs who braved Jim Crow, violence, and bigotry to demand equal voting rights for Black Americans in the South and across the nation.
“Recognizing the sacrifices of civil rights leaders who fought and died to secure voting rights for all Americans is essential to continuing the work toward equality,” said Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center. “Civil rights trailblazers like John Lewis, Hosea Williams, Lynda Blackmon Lowery, the ‘smallest freedom fighter’ Sheyann Webb-Christburg, and all those who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge demonstrated the power of courage, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
“Those who marched did so in pursuit of one of our most fundamental freedoms—the right to vote in fair and free elections. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to those who accomplished years of progress for our country. Today, there are once again threats to the progress made 60 years ago, as the Supreme Court now allows both state and federal officials to suppress the vote. It is our duty today to take up the torch, rededicating ourselves to the fight for civil rights in honor of those who fought before us and those who will come after us,” Huang concluded.
About the Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people. For more information, visit www.splcenter.org.