MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Today, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) mourns the loss of civil rights warrior Jo Ann Bland, who passed away on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.
“The state of Alabama and the country lost a life-long advocate to the Civil Rights Movement. Jo Ann Bland dedicated her life to continue the fight for desegregation, equality and voting rights,” said Tafeni English-Relf, Alabama state director, SPLC. “Following her participation in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the ‘Bloody Sunday’ march in Selma, her advocacy led to her co-founding the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute and Foot Soldiers Park.
“As one of the youngest people to have been jailed in the Civil Rights Movement, Bland will be remembered for her tireless work teaching the future generation about America’s segregated past. She also launched ‘Journeys for the Soul,’ a tour that showcased the struggles for voting rights in Selma as a source of education to ensure continued voting protections for Black and Brown voters in the South. Her bravery paved the way for others to stand against segregation in the state of Alabama and beyond.”
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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.