Civil Rights Activists Begin Historic Selma to Montgomery March

Demonstration under federal escort marks key moment in fight for voting rights

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:10am

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On March 21, 1965, civil rights activists led by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. began their third attempt to march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, this time under the protection of U.S. Army and National Guard troops assigned by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The march was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, as demonstrators demanded equal voting rights for Black Americans in the face of violent opposition.

Why it matters

The Selma to Montgomery march was a landmark event in the civil rights struggle, drawing national attention to the fight for voting rights and the systemic racism faced by Black Americans in the South. The federal intervention to protect the marchers represented a significant shift in the government's response to civil rights protests, and the successful completion of the march helped build momentum for the passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year.

The details

After two previous attempts to march were met with violent crackdowns by state and local authorities, the third Selma to Montgomery march on March 21 was escorted by thousands of U.S. Army and National Guard troops. This federal protection allowed the demonstrators to complete the 54-mile journey to the Alabama state capital, where they held a rally and delivered speeches demanding equal voting rights.

  • On March 21, 1965, civil rights activists led by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. began the third Selma to Montgomery march.
  • The first two attempts on March 7 and March 9 were met with violent attacks by police, leading to the "Bloody Sunday" incident.
  • President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered federal troops to escort the marchers on the third attempt, allowing them to complete the journey on March 25.

The players

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

A prominent leader of the civil rights movement who organized the Selma to Montgomery marches to demand voting rights for Black Americans.

President Lyndon B. Johnson

The U.S. president who ordered federal troops to protect the Selma to Montgomery marchers, a pivotal moment in the federal government's response to the civil rights movement.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

The takeaway

The successful completion of the Selma to Montgomery march under federal protection was a major victory for the civil rights movement, helping to build momentum for the passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year and cementing the march's place as a pivotal moment in the struggle for racial equality in America.