March 7
Bloody Sunday in Selma
On March 7, 1965, approximately 600 civil rights marchers headed east from Selma toward Montgomery to demand voting rights. At the Edmund Pettus Bridge, state and local lawmen attacked the peaceful demonstrators with billy clubs and tear gas. The nationally televised images shocked the country and galvanized support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Selma 50th Anniversary March
On March 7, 2015, President Barack Obama led a march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. In his speech, he declared the civil rights movement "not yet won" and honored John Lewis and other foot soldiers. Over 40,000 people participated.
The Selma to Montgomery March
A march to demand voting rights for African Americans was met with violent opposition.
Wanda Sykes Born
Born March 7, 1964, Wanda Sykes worked as a contracting specialist at the NSA before pursuing comedy. She became one of the most respected stand-up comedians in America and was the first African American woman to perform at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.