One day in 1965, 25-year-old John Lewis led 600 peaceful protesters onto a bridge in Selma, Alabama. What happened next would change our country forever.

Alabama Department of Archives and History. Donated by Alabama Media Group. Photo by Spider Martin, Birmingham News

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Bloody Sunday

A true story from the civil rights movement 

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AP Images 

Attacked
Lewis—and about  60 other peaceful protesters—were injured by state troopers on Bloody Sunday

    It was 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, 1965. Twenty-five-year-old John Lewis led the way onto the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Behind him were 600 protesters, walking peacefully two by two. Their goal was to march 50 miles to the state capital of Montgomery. There they would demand one of the most basic of freedoms: the right to vote.

    Halfway across the bridge, Lewis stopped in his tracks and stared ahead. He saw a wall of blue—dozens of Alabama state troopers in uniform. Behind the troopers were more men in regular clothes. They carried clubs the size of baseball bats.

    Lewis wasn’t sure what was about to happen. But he knew it could put lives at risk. 

    He also knew it could change the course of history.

    It was Sunday, March 7, 1965. John Lewis was 25. He stepped onto the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Behind him were 600 others. They planned to march 50 miles to Montgomery, the state capital. There they would demand the right to vote.

    Halfway across the bridge, Lewis stopped. Ahead of him were dozens of Alabama state troopers. Behind them were more men. They carried clubs the size of baseball bats.

    Lewis wasn’t sure what would happen next. But he knew it could put lives at risk.

    He also knew it could change the course of history.

    At 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, 1965, 25-year-old John Lewis led the way onto the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Behind him were 600 protesters, walking peacefully two by two. Their goal was to march 50 miles to the state capital of Montgomery, where they would demand one of the most basic of freedoms: the right to vote. 

    Halfway across the bridge, Lewis stopped in his tracks and stared ahead. He was facing a wall of blue—dozens of Alabama state troopers in uniform. Behind the troopers were more men in regular clothing, carrying clubs the size of baseball bats.

    Lewis wasn’t sure what was about to happen, but he knew it could put lives at risk.

    He also knew it could change the course of history.

A Basic Right 

Bettmann/Getty Images

It was a time of terrible violence and racism against Black Americans.

    The march that day in Selma wasn’t unusual. For years, Black Americans had been protesting to end segregation. They had won the right to go to the same schools as white people. They had gotten rid of “whites only” restrooms and lunch counters. Now they were fighting the next big battle: protecting their right to vote. 

    They shouldn’t have had to fight at all. In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave Black men the right to vote. But across the South, officials found ways around the law. Black people had to pass impossibly hard “literacy tests” before they could register to vote. Even if they passed, they still had to pay a fee called a poll tax. 

    As a result, by the early 1960s, only one in five Black Alabamans were registered to vote.

    The march that day in Selma was nothing new. For years, Black Americans had been protesting to end segregation. They had won the right to go to the same schools as white people. They had gotten rid of “whites only” restrooms and lunch counters. Now came the next big battle: protecting their right to vote.

    They shouldn’t have had to fight. In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave Black men the right to vote. But in the South, officials found ways around the law. Black people had to pass impossibly hard “literacy tests” before they could register to vote. Even if they passed, they still had to pay a fee called a poll tax.

    By the early 1960s, only one in five Black people in Alabama were registered.

    The march that day in Selma wasn’t unusual. For years, Black Americans had been protesting to end segregation. They had won the right to go to the same schools as white people, and they had gotten rid of “whites only” restrooms and lunch counters. Now they were fighting the next major battle: protecting their right to vote.

    They shouldn’t have had to fight at all. In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave Black men the right to vote. But across the South, officials found ways around the law. Black people had to pass impossibly hard “literacy tests” before they could register to vote. Even if they passed, they still had to pay a fee called a poll tax.

    As a result, by the early 1960s, only 20 percent of Black Alabamans were registered to vote.

Filling the Jails

© Dan Budnik/Contact Press Images

Unfair laws and violent police officers stopped millions of Black Americans from using their right to vote.

    John Lewis started working for voting rights in Selma in 1963. He was just 23. But he had grown up going to segregated schools. He had been fighting for civil rights since he was 18.

    In Selma, Lewis helped Black people try to register to vote. Most of them were turned away. Sometimes they were thrown in jail simply for standing in line on the sidewalk. In two years, only 100 people were allowed to register.

    In January 1965, some people decided they had had enough. Day after day, hundreds lined up peacefully to register. Police took them to jail, jabbing them with clubs. In jail, they had to sleep on a cement floor with no blankets. 

    But getting arrested was actually the goal. The protesters wanted to fill Selma’s jails until they made the news. Hopefully, other Americans would notice and join the call for change.

    Then, in February, a man named Jimmie Lee Jackson was shot to death by police. He had been trying to protect his grandfather. At Jackson’s funeral, a plan was made. Protesters would march from Selma to Montgomery. To get there, they had to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

    John Lewis started working for voting rights in Selma in 1963. He was 23. As a kid, he had gone to segregated schools. He had been fighting for civil rights since he was 18.

    In Selma, Lewis helped Black people try to register to vote. Most of them were turned away. Some were thrown in jail just for standing in line. In two years, only 100 people were allowed to register.

    In January 1965, some people made a plan. Each day, hundreds lined up peacefully to register. Police took them to jail. There, they had to sleep on a cement floor.

    But this was their plan. The protesters wanted to fill Selma’s jails. They hoped to make the news. Then other people might notice and join the call for change.

    Then, in February, a man named Jimmie Lee Jackson was shot to death by police. He had been trying to protect his grandfather. At Jackson’s funeral, a new plan was made. Protesters would march from Selma to Montgomery. To get there, they had to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

    John Lewis started working for voting rights in Selma in 1963. He was only 23, but he had grown up going to segregated schools and had been fighting for civil rights since he was 18.

    In Selma, Lewis helped Black people try to register to vote. Most of them were turned away, and some were thrown in jail simply for standing in line on the sidewalk. In two years, only 100 people were allowed to register.

    In January 1965, some people decided they had had enough. Day after day, hundreds lined up peacefully to register. Police took them to jail, jabbing them with clubs. In jail, they had to sleep on a cement floor with no blankets.

    But getting arrested was actually their intention. The protesters wanted to fill Selma’s jails until they made the news. Hopefully, other Americans would notice and join the call for change.

    Then, in February, a man named Jimmie Lee Jackson was shot to death by police. He had been trying to protect his grandfather. At Jackson’s funeral, a plan was made. Protesters would march from Selma to Montgomery. To get there, they had to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Jim McMahon/Mapman ®

Selma to Montgomery  
Two weeks after Bloody Sunday, about 3,200 people started the Selma to Montgomery march again. By the time they got to Montgomery, the crowd had grown to 25,000.

Battle on the Bridge

    On the bridge that Sunday, the troopers gave Lewis and the marchers two minutes to turn around. Then they charged. Lewis heard the clunk of boots on the pavement. He heard the clip-clop of horses’ hooves. He heard a woman yell, “Get ’em!”  

    A trooper swung his club at Lewis’s head, and Lewis went down. “I thought, this is it,” he said later. “People are going to die here. I’m going to die here.”

    The attack lasted 10 minutes. Troopers swept through the crowd swinging their clubs. Men on horses trampled protesters when they fell. When it was over, men, women, and children lay on the street, bleeding. At least 60 people were injured. Lewis was left with a broken skull.

    On the bridge that Sunday, the troopers gave the marchers two minutes to turn around. Then they charged. Lewis heard boots on the pavement. He heard horses’ hooves. He heard a woman yell, “Get ’em!”

    A trooper swung his club at Lewis’s head. Lewis went down. “I thought, this is it,” he said later. “People are going to die here. I’m going to die here.”

    The attack lasted 10 minutes. Troopers swung clubs. Men on horses trampled marchers. When it was over, at least 60 people were hurt. Lewis had a broken skull.

    On the bridge that Sunday, the troopers gave Lewis and the marchers two minutes to turn around. Then they charged. Lewis heard the clunk of boots on the pavement and the clip-clop of horses’ hooves. He heard a woman yell, “Get ’em!”  

    A trooper swung his club at Lewis’s head, and Lewis went down. “I thought, this is it,” he recalled later. “People are going to die here. I’m going to die here.”

    The attack lasted 10 minutes. Troopers swept through the crowd swinging their clubs. Men on horses trampled protesters when they fell. When it was over, men, women, and children lay on the street, bleeding. At least 60 people were injured. Lewis was left with a broken skull.

Stephen F. Somerstein/Getty Images (Bobby Simmons); Steve Schapiro/Corbis via Getty Images (Martin Luther King Jr.)

A Powerful Message

The civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to the crowd in Montgomery at the end of the march. The crowd included many young people—like Bobby Simmons, 18 (above)—who dreamed of a better future.

Victory at Last

    That day on the bridge became known as Bloody Sunday. And it made America pay attention. Protesters filled the streets in 80 cities. Hundreds of people arrived in Selma, hoping to continue the march. President Lyndon B. Johnson promised to protect the marchers this time.

    On March 21, 3,200 marchers left Selma. They crossed the bridge safely. Four days later, they marched into Montgomery. And five months later, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act. The new law made discrimination against Black voters illegal. In less than a year, 8,500 new Black voters were registered in the Selma area.

    That day on the bridge became known as Bloody Sunday. And it got attention. There were protests in 80 cities. Hundreds of people came to Selma to continue the march. President Lyndon B. Johnson promised to protect the marchers.

    On March 21, 3,200 marchers left Selma. They crossed the bridge safely. Four days later, they reached Montgomery. And five months later, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act. This law made discrimination against Black voters illegal. In less than a year, 8,500 new Black voters were registered in the Selma area.

    That day on the bridge became known as Bloody Sunday, and it got the public’s attention. Protesters filled the streets in 80 cities. Hundreds of people arrived in Selma, hoping to continue the march. President Lyndon B. Johnson promised to protect the marchers this time.

    On March 21, 3,200 marchers left Selma and crossed the bridge safely. Four days later, they marched into Montgomery. And five months later, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, which made discrimination against Black voters illegal. In less than a year, 8,500 new Black voters were registered in the Selma area.

Everett Collection Historical/Alamy Stock Photo

A Nation Demands Change  
People across the country protested in their own cities. The protests led to change. In August 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law.

A Final Message

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

Remembering a Hero
This summer, John Lewis died at age 80. Now a group of people are pushing to rename the bridge in Selma after him.

    John Lewis died this summer at age 80. After his work in Selma, he served as a congressman for 34 years. Even then he didn’t stop protesting. He led sit-ins and warned that some states still make it hard for Black Americans to vote. 

    Just a few weeks before he died, Lewis returned to the Edmund Pettus Bridge. He had a message for young Americans that day. “Speak up, speak out, get in the way,” he said. “We got to make America better for all of her people.” 

    John Lewis died this summer. He was 80. After his work in Selma, he was a congressman for 34 years. Even then he kept protesting. He led sit-ins. He warned that some states still make it hard for Black people to vote.

    A few weeks before he died, Lewis returned to the Edmund Pettus Bridge. He had a message for young people. “Speak up, speak out, get in the way,” he said. “We got to make America better for all of her people.”

    John Lewis died this summer at age 80. After his work in Selma, he served as a congressman for 34 years. Even then he didn’t stop protesting. He led sit-ins, and he warned that some states still make it difficult for Black Americans to vote.

    A few weeks before his death, Lewis returned to the Edmund Pettus Bridge. He had a message for young Americans that day. “Speak up, speak out, get in the way,” Lewis urged. “We got to make America better for all of her people.”

Background Builder

ACTIVITY: 
Finding Text Evidence

You’ve just read “Bloody Sunday.” Now do this activity to help you better understand the article.

Tip: Text evidence means details in a story that support an answer or show that it is true.

What to do: Use text evidence—or details from the article—to answer the questions below. We did the first one for you.

You’ve just read “Bloody Sunday.” Now do this activity to help you better understand the article.

Tip: Text evidence means details in a story that support an answer or show that it is true.

What to do: Use text evidence—or details from the article—to answer the questions below. We did the first one for you.

You’ve just read “Bloody Sunday.” Now do this activity to help you better understand the article.

Tip: Text evidence means details in a story that support an answer or show that it is true.

What to do: Use text evidence—or details from the article—to answer the questions below. We did the first one for you.

How old was John Lewis when he started fighting for civil rights? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the section “Filling the Jails.”

Answer: Lewis was 18 when he started fighting for civil rights.

How old was John Lewis when he started fighting for civil rights? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the section “Filling the Jails.”

Answer: Lewis was 18 when he started fighting for civil rights.

How old was John Lewis when he started fighting for civil rights? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the section “Filling the Jails.”

Answer: Lewis was 18 when he started fighting for civil rights.

Who led the march on Bloody Sunday? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the article’s first paragraph.

Who led the march on Bloody Sunday? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the article’s first paragraph.

Who led the march on Bloody Sunday? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the article’s first paragraph.

How did Lewis continue protesting during his career as a congressman? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the section “A Final Message.”

How did Lewis continue protesting during his career as a congressman? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the section “A Final Message.”

How did Lewis continue protesting during his career as a congressman? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the section “A Final Message.”

Shortly before his death, what did Lewis encourage young people to do? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the section “A Final Message.”

Shortly before his death, what did Lewis encourage young people to do? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the section “A Final Message.”

Shortly before his death, what did Lewis encourage young people to do? 

HINT: Look for the answer in the section “A Final Message.”

Think About It! What do your answers tell you about John Lewis’s lifelong hopes and beliefs?

Think About It! What do your answers tell you about John Lewis’s lifelong hopes and beliefs?

Think About It! What do your answers tell you about John Lewis’s lifelong hopes and beliefs?

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