#USA #Selma #Brown Chapel AME #Bloody Sunday #Civil Rights Movement

60 Years Since Bloody Sunday: Remembering the Legacy at Brown Chapel AME Church

On March 9, 2025, a significant gathering of civil rights leaders, preservation advocates, and community members will take place in Selma, Alabama, honoring the 60th anniversary of the momentous event known as Bloody Sunday. This iconic day in American history is marked by the courageous march led by Congressman John Lewis and Reverend Hosea Williams across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where peaceful demonstrators faced brutal violence at the hands of law enforcement. The harrowing images, which were broadcasted on national television, galvanized widespread support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a crucial piece of legislation that reshaped American democracy.

In a tribute to this pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (Action Fund), together with the historic Brown Chapel AME Church, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and a coalition of preservation and civil rights organizations, will host a series of special events from March 7 to March 10 as part of the Selma Jubilee weekend. These events will honor the legacy of activism led by community members while emphasizing the need to restore Brown Chapel AME, a National Historic Landmark that has remained closed to the public since 2020 due to critical structural issues.

Honoring the Heroes of 1965

The 60th anniversary is more than just a remembrance; it is an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of those who marched in 1965 and to recognize the ongoing struggles for civil rights. Events planned for this weekend will include discussions and panels focused on the ongoing quest for social justice and equality. Notable participants include Brent Leggs, the executive director of the Action Fund, and Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. They will lead conversations aimed at mobilizing support for further action in the face of current challenges facing democracy.

The meeting point will be the Edmundite Missions Dr. Michael and Catherine Bullock Community Center in Selma, where a series of educational and commemorative activities will take place. On Saturday, March 8, a panel discussion titled Making Democracy Deliver will underscore the importance of supporting multiracial democracy, which is only six decades old. The panel will engage with pressing issues such as protecting voting rights and fighting against disenfranchisement, particularly among Black communities in America.

A Call to Preservation

Participants will also gather on March 9 for a press conference and commemorative worship service, emphasizing the necessity of preserving the historic Brown Chapel AME Church. Closed for repairs due to significant damage, the church represents a living monument to the sacrifices made during the Civil Rights Movement. Despite its current state, the church played an essential role as a gathering place for leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Congressman John Lewis, and many believe that restoring it will affirm that the spaces that have shaped our fight for justice will not be forgotten.

The Action Fund and Brown Chapel have formed a coalition aimed at reviving the church, which is recognized as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The preservation efforts reflect a commitment to ensure that the important narratives tied to these spaces continue to inspire future generations. Through community support, they hope to not only restore Brown Chapel but also reaffirm the crucial role it played in shaping America’s fight for civil rights.

As the 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday approaches, the message is loud and clear: this is an invitation to all to honor the legacy of the past while building a more equitable future. Join the community in remembering this crucial moment in history and support the ongoing efforts to preserve the sites that are so integral to the story of American Civil Rights. Let us ensure that Brown Chapel AME stands for generations to come as a symbol of hope, activism, and resilience.