Selma Activists Worry About Fate of Voting Rights Act

As Selma marks 61 years since 'Bloody Sunday', organizers fear Supreme Court could roll back key voting protections.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Thousands gathered in Selma, Alabama this weekend to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the 'Bloody Sunday' civil rights march, which helped spur passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act. However, the celebrations come as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could limit a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, raising concerns that hard-won voting rights gains could be eroded.

Why it matters

The Voting Rights Act has been instrumental in protecting the voting rights of minority communities, especially in the South. A Supreme Court decision limiting the Act could open the door for Republican-controlled states to redraw congressional districts in ways that dilute the voting power of Black and Latino voters.

The details

On March 7, 1965, civil rights marchers including John Lewis and Hosea Williams were brutally attacked by state troopers as they tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. The shocking 'Bloody Sunday' violence helped spur passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year. Now, 61 years later, the Supreme Court is considering a case that could restrict the Act's ability to ensure minority voters can elect their preferred candidates.

  • The 'Bloody Sunday' march in Selma occurred on March 7, 1965.
  • The Voting Rights Act was passed later in 1965, in the wake of the Selma violence.
  • The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the Louisiana redistricting case soon.

The players

Charles Mauldin

A 78-year-old who was one of the marchers beaten on 'Bloody Sunday' in 1965 alongside civil rights icon John Lewis.

Hank Sanders

A former Alabama state senator who helped start the annual commemoration of the Selma events.

Shomari Figures

A Democratic U.S. Representative from an Alabama district that was redrawn by the federal court.

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What they’re saying

“I'm concerned that all of the advances that we made for the last 61 years are going to be eradicated.”

— Charles Mauldin (Los Angeles Times)

“The feeling is a profound fear that we will be taken back — a greater fear than at any time since 1965.”

— Hank Sanders, Former Alabama state senator (Los Angeles Times)

“I think coming to Selma is a refreshing reminder every single year that the progress that we got from the civil rights movement is not perpetual. It's been under consistent attacks almost since we've gotten those rights.”

— Shomari Figures, U.S. Representative (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the Louisiana redistricting case soon, which could have major implications for the future of the Voting Rights Act.

The takeaway

The Selma anniversary celebrations highlight the ongoing struggle to protect voting rights, even decades after the civil rights movement's landmark victories. A Supreme Court decision limiting the Voting Rights Act could roll back hard-won progress and make it harder for minority communities to have their voices heard at the ballot box.