March 6, 2024
I had the amazing opportunity to go with the League of Women Voters to Alabama the first weekend in March to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. During that time, we had the pleasure of attending the Martin and Coretta Scott King Jubilee Breakfast, the NAACP Bridge Crossing Banquet, a Southern Poverty Law Center event with John Lewis‘ nephew and Congresswoman Nikema Williams, and the Equal Justice Initiative's museums and memorials. I had the opportunity to speak at a joint event with the Alabama League of Women Voters and the NAACP on youth civic engagement.
On Sunday in Selma, we saw Vice President Harris give remarks in front of the Edmund Pettis Bridge. It was truly life-changing.
This experience created an even deeper passion within me for voting rights and advocacy. It was within my parents’ lifetimes that voting was not guaranteed equally to each American, thus, constant advocacy is crucial to keeping voting a right in our country. As soon as we take democratic participation for granted, that's when we are in jeopardy of losing that right. I hope you all know how important the work you’re doing is, and it does not go unrecognized! Let’s fight together to protect our democracy.
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The LWVUS published a story about the trip in the April 10 blog post, LWV Powers Young Voters in Selma. Read the full article here.
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The LWVFL published a story about the trip in the March 13 The Florida Voter. The article appears with permission below. You can find the original article in the online edition of the newsletter.
Florida League Delegation Visits Selma in Honor of Bloody Sunday
In a poignant tribute to history and activism, a delegation of college students representing the collegiate chapters of the League of Women Voters of Florida embarked on a transformative journey to Selma, Alabama, commemorating Bloody Sunday from February 29-March 4. The delegation joined leaders from the LWV of Alabama, LWV of Kentucky and LWVUS in Selma.
The students had the extraordinary opportunity to meet with esteemed congressional leaders, including Congressman James E. Clyburn, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Steven Horsford, Congresswoman Nikema Williams of Georgia, and Selma's own Congresswoman Terri Sewell. The delegation had the honor of meeting members of the late John Lewis's family, original foot soldiers from the Selma to Montgomery march, and leaders of impactful organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center, NAACP, the Transformative Justice Coalition and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Immersing themselves in the rich history of Selma and Montgomery, the students paid respects at the Equal Justice Initiative's Legacy Museum, deeply engaging with the foundations of slavery and the narratives of the civil rights movement. The journey culminated in witnessing Vice President Kamala Harris and other national leaders deliver a powerful address at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, symbolizing the ongoing fight for justice and equality.
This experience undoubtedly left a profound impact on the students, inspiring them to continue advocating for change and preserving the legacy of those who bravely paved the way for civil rights in America.
Originally published in the March 13 edition of The Florida Voter.
