Washington, DC—Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) released the following statement commemorating the anniversary of Bloody Sunday:

“Today marks the 47th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama across the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement. Freedom fighters such as my dear friend and colleague Rep. John Lewis along with hundreds of courageous men and women who fearlessly marched, fought and bled for the justice, equality and freedom that we all enjoy today.

Without the tireless work and courage of countless Civil Rights giants that came before me, I would not have the privilege to serve as the Representative of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District.  As a Selma native, it is a full circle moment for me to celebrate the monumental Selma to Montgomery march that ultimately led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The State of Alabama played an integral role in shaping the fabric of the Civil Rights Movement and American History. Let us not forget that this important legacy is not just black history, but American history.

As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ‘We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.’

This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on our past and recommit to the ideals of equality and justice that the Civil Rights Movement represents. We must remember that we all owe a debt of gratitude to the Civil Rights activists who championed the protection of the humanity, democracy and civil liberties of this great nation.”

Contact:
Breelyn Pete
202.225.2665
Breelyn.pete@mail.house.gov

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