Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement -- Images of a Peoples' Movement

Selma, Lord, Selma

Oh Wallace,
you never can jail us all,
Oh Wallace,
segregation's bound to fall.

High school students under arrest for marching in support of voter registration, February, 1965. Sheriff Jim Clark supervises their incarceration for crimes against the southern way of life.

Diane Richardson and Margaret Griffen, two of Selma's nonviolent warriors. You don't have to be a man with a gun to be a hero.

Dr. King, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Rev. Ralph Abernathy, and Rev. Andrew Young demanding voting rights on the steps of the Dallas County courthouse.

SCLC organizers Rev. James Bevel, Rev. Richard Boone, and Rev. Harold Middlebrooks outside of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma.

[Bruce Hartford]

High-school students leading freedom songs at a mass meeting in Brown Chapel.

After Black teachers are arrested for trying to register to vote, students march in their support. They are immediately arrested.

Preaching a sermon of freedom on a cold winter day. From left, John Lewis of SNCC (kneeling), Hosea Williams of SCLC (kneeling), and Andy Young of SCLC (standing). Movement headquarters Brown Chapel is in the background.

Bloody Sunday

Hosea Williams (SCLC) and John Lewis (SNCC), followed by Albert Turner (SCLC) and Bob Mants (SNCC), lead the march down from the Edmund Pettus bridge towards the waiting troopers and possemen.

[Police photo]

Troopers Attack!

[FBI photograph]

[Library of Congress photo]

Selma Movement leader Mrs. Amelia Boynton after being gassed and clubbed to the ground.

[© John Phillips]

Out for blood!

[© Spider Martin]

[© John Kouns]

To prevent any further marching, the police stretch a rope across Sylvan Street outside of Brown Chapel. It is guarded by a line of cops. Anyone marching past the rope faces arrest, a beating, or worse.

[© John Phillips]

Around the clock — 24/7 — day after day, night after night, in freezing rain and blazing sun, the marchers press against the rope they call the "Berlin Wall."

[© Bob Adelman]

We're gonna stand here 'till it falls,
Till it falls,
Till it falls,
We're gonna stand here 'till it falls
In Selma, Alabama!
[© John Phillips]

[© John Kouns]

Sheriffs deputies and possemen stand ready to attack any protesters who attempt to maneuver around the "Berlin Wall."

SNCC, Tuskegee, and Alabama State College students open a "Second Front" in Montgomery

[Police photo]

Black Students from Tuskegee and Alabama State march on the capitol in Montgomery to demand voting rights.

Blocked and surrounded by cops in front of the capitol.

SNCC leader Jim Forman is arrested and dragged away.

[Police photo]

Confrontation at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.

Mounted troopers and posseman attack student protesters in Montgomery

[Photographer unknown]

Around the nation — Around the World — demonstrators support the embattled citizens of Selma & Montgomery and the demand for Voting Rights Now!

Here protesters block Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House.

Finally, after days of legal maneuvering, a Federal judge issues an order requiring Alabama to permit the March to Montgomery. The National Guard is called out to enforce our right to march for freedom.