Selma marks 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday amid voting rights concerns

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Sixty-one years after state troopers attacked civil rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, thousands gathered in the city this weekend to commemorate the historic Bloody Sunday event. However, the anniversary comes amid new concerns about the future of the Voting Rights Act and the ongoing fight to protect voting rights.

Why it matters

The 1965 Bloody Sunday march in Selma was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. But recent Supreme Court decisions and legislative changes have raised fears that hard-won voting protections could be eroded, making the anniversary a bittersweet occasion.

The details

The Bloody Sunday march on March 7, 1965, saw state troopers brutally attack peaceful civil rights protesters as they attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights for Black Americans. The violent crackdown sparked national outrage and led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year.

• The 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday was commemorated this past weekend in Selma.
• The original Bloody Sunday march took place on March 7, 1965.

What’s next

Civil rights leaders and activists are expected to continue advocating for the restoration and strengthening of the Voting Rights Act in the wake of recent Supreme Court decisions that have weakened its protections.