Steve
On Saturday, June 12th, our tour ended in Selma. The final event that Joanne Bland organized for us was the walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. (Edmund Pettus served as a Confederate general during the Civil War.) Each of us is experiencing the walk in our own way. In the photos, you'll notice some pensive and thoughtful, others trying to capture the moment for posterity on video or in digital photos. Many of us have smiles on our faces. It's not that we don't remember the violence that took place here. I think it must be that we can't believe we get to walk in history's footsteps. We are kind of thrilled at that.
Background:
In 1964 President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which made segregation illegal. However, Alabama's Jim Crow laws remained in effect and many African Americans who tried to visit theaters and diners were beaten and arrested. Dr. King addressed a mass meeting in January of 1965 in defiance of an anti-meeting injunction. In February, Jimmy Lee Jackson was killed while trying to protect his mother and grandfather from troopers during a night time demonstration. In response, the marches from Selma to Montgomery were planned. The goal was to ask Governor Wallace to protect African American voters and to address troopers' orders during the demonstration in which Jimmy Lee Jackson was killed.
The Marches:
March 7, 1965 is known as "Bloody Sunday". Marchers left Brown Church and began to walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to speak to Governor Wallace. They were met, at the bottom of the opposite side by a wall of troopers across all four lanes of highway. They were told to disband, but leaders wanted to speak to troopers. After being told there was nothing to talk about, tear gas canisters were fired on the crowd and beatings began. The publicity from this violence brought sympathetic supporters and two more marches were organized. The third march drew around 8,000 people and they were able to spread their message without further violence. Following the marches, President Johnson met with Governor Wallace. I have a book that includes a fictional account of their meeting called I Wish I'd Been There, by Byron Hollinshead. It could have been truly fascinating to have listened in on that meeting. Johnson's bill, Voting Rights Act, would later pass Congress.
Todd, Don, and Kristen
Sue, Elias, and Jennifer
Doris is typing up elements of our lesson plans. These photos prove that we worked as well as enjoyed our study tour of Alabama. Our debriefing session at the end of the trip was emotional, moving, and demonstrated how we were each affected by what we have learned. May we convey that to our students as we return to our classrooms.
Our 2010 TAH Group in front of the Brown Chapel AME Church building.
Don't mess with Joanne!
Shawn, Arlis, Terri
Our hosts, Ahmad and James
Barry and Jessica. Thanks to Jessica for allowing me to use many of her photos. She's awesome.
My wonderful roommate, Shawn
Jessica's an artist with the camera.
Selma
Eileen and me
Note Brown Chapel AME Church in the background. My photos of it appear in an earlier blog.
These historic photos from the marches across the bridge were borrowed from noseconenew.com, huffingtonpost.com, media.cleveland.com, and 4.bp.blogspot.com
Front three: Sue, Beatriz, Carrie
Leaving town to cross the bridge. We are under strict orders to walk two by two and "keep up!"
Waiting to cross the bridge. I don't remember what caught our attention in the window. Peter, Arlis, Doris, Terri, Aaron.
Twilight arrives as we walk.
Arlis (me), Doris, Aaron
Kerry, Kristen, Don, Todd, Carrie, Beatriz 
Don, Justin, Todd, Elias, David, and Justin
In Selma, this is the Brown Chapel AME church building where meetings took place during planning and organizing of the marches for equal access to voting rights.
Our TAH group walks down to the street from the playground/staging area for the marches to Montgomery. 
The low income homes across from the Brown Chapel AME (African Methodist Episcopal) church in Selma. Joanne lived here when she was young. Many of the same families or their children and grandchildren still live here.
A "hands on" lesson about what is important. Remembering the sacrifices people made for our freedom, and that one person can make a difference. Justin holds a rock from the ground in Selma, where the march to Montgomery began. (Joanne thought Justin was cute.)
Pebbles in Selma on the pavement that Joanne Bland fights to save. It is the same pavement on which marchers staged the walk to across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to Montgomery. 
