The Edmund Pettus Bridge, located in Selma, Alabama, is one of the most significant landmarks in the history of the American civil rights movement. Constructed in 1940 and named after Edmund Winston Pettus, a former Confederate general, U.S. senator, and Grand Dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan, the bridge spans the Alabama River and connects the city of Selma to points east.
The bridge gained national and historical significance on March 7, 1965, a day that became known as "Bloody Sunday." On this day, approximately 600 civil rights marchers, led by John Lewis and Hosea Williams, attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights for African Americans.
As they crossed the bridge, they were met by a heavily armed posse of state troopers and local law enforcement who ordered them to disperse. When the marchers did not comply, they were brutally attacked with clubs, whips, and tear gas. The violent response was televised and shocked the nation, drawing widespread outrage and support for the civil rights movement.
In response to "Bloody Sunday," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders organized another march on March 9, 1965, known as "Turnaround Tuesday." This time, the marchers crossed the bridge, prayed, and then turned back, adhering to a court order. Finally, under federal protection, the marchers successfully made the 54-mile journey from Selma to Montgomery starting on March 21 and arriving on March 25, 1965. This third march culminated in a rally at the Alabama State Capitol, where Dr. King delivered his famous "How Long, Not Long" speech.
The events surrounding the Edmund Pettus Bridge were instrumental in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark piece of federal legislation that outlawed discriminatory voting practices. The bridge itself has become a symbol of the struggle for civil rights and a site of pilgrimage for those honoring the legacy of the movement.
The Edmund Pettus Bridge remains a powerful symbol of the fight for civil rights and social justice. It is a National Historic Landmark and continues to draw visitors from around the world. The annual reenactment of the march across the bridge during the Selma Jubilee commemorates the bravery of the marchers and the progress made in the ongoing fight for equality.
The bridge, with its historical weight and symbolic resonance, stands as a testament to the resilience and courage of those who fought for civil rights and serves as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to achieve true equality.