Selma Marks 61st Anniversary of Bloody Sunday Amid Voting Rights Concerns

Thousands gather in Alabama city to commemorate pivotal Civil Rights march as Supreme Court considers case that could limit Voting Rights Act

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Sixty-one years after state troopers attacked Civil Rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, thousands gathered in the Alabama city this weekend to commemorate the anniversary of Bloody Sunday. The commemoration came as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could limit a provision of the Voting Rights Act that has helped ensure some congressional and local districts are drawn so minority voters have a chance to elect their candidate of choice.

Why it matters

The Bloody Sunday march in Selma was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, shocking the nation and helping spur passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act. Now, with the Supreme Court poised to potentially limit the law, there are growing concerns that the hard-won gains of the Civil Rights era could be eroded.

The details

Thousands of people, including Democratic officeholders, civil rights leaders, and tourists, descended on Selma to pay homage to the Bloody Sunday march and issue calls to action. Speakers warned of the looming court decision and criticized the Trump administration's actions on immigration and efforts to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion. The annual commemoration in Selma is a mix of civil rights remembrances, church services, and a street festival, as well as a political rally with an eye on November's midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race.

  • The March 7, 1965 violence on the Edmund Pettus Bridge became known as Bloody Sunday.
  • The Supreme Court is currently considering a case that could limit a provision of the Voting Rights Act.
  • The annual Selma commemoration took place this past weekend, on the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

The players

Charles Mauldin

A 78-year-old who was one of the marchers beaten on Bloody Sunday.

Wes Moore

The governor of Maryland, who spoke at the commemoration and urged attendees to press forward like the original Bloody Sunday marchers.

JB Pritzker

The governor of Illinois, who spoke at a rally at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge and said racism is on the rise in America and "Trump's Supreme Court is gutting the Voting Rights Act."

Yusef Jackson

The son of the late civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson, who said his father's legacy will be carried forward.

Shomari Figures

A U.S. Representative from Alabama whose district was redrawn by a federal court to give Black voters a greater voice, and which will likely be targeted if the state gets the opportunity to redraw lines.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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 (Chicago Tribune)

“Those who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge deserve better than us cowering while the freedoms that we inherited and they fought for, are being ripped away.”

— Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland (Chicago Tribune)

“Let's march forward today with the knowledge that we are the inheritors of the faith that brought marchers to the bridge 61 years ago. It is now on us to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice.”

— JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois (Chicago Tribune)

“In November, we will go back to the polls and take our government back, setting our country on the right path.”

— Yusef Jackson (Chicago Tribune)

“When you look at what's going on today, we're still fighting for the right to vote.”

— James Reynolds (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on a Louisiana case about the role of race in drawing congressional districts. A ruling prohibiting or limiting that role could have sweeping consequences, potentially opening the door for Republican-controlled states to redistrict and roll back majority Black and Latino districts that tend to favor Democrats.

The takeaway

The commemoration of Bloody Sunday in Selma serves as a stark reminder that the hard-won gains of the Civil Rights Movement are still under threat, as the Supreme Court considers a case that could significantly weaken the Voting Rights Act. This has galvanized civil rights leaders and Democratic officials to redouble their efforts to protect voting rights and ensure fair representation for minority communities.