Each year, the third Monday of January is celebrated as Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. The Department of Defense joins the Nation in honoring Dr. King’s life, achievements, and enduring impact on the United States.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march campaign, led by Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) to stop voter suppression.
Following the Civil War and the end of slavery, Jim Crow laws were enacted to suppress African American rights, including the right to vote. Because of stringent voter registration requirements and the threat of violence, Black voter participation in some Alabama counties plummeted to nearly 0%.
In 1965, King and the SCLC launched a protest and voter registration campaign in Selma, Alabama. On March 7, 600 nonviolent protestors began marching 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery.
When they arrived at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, law enforcement attacked them, forcing the protesters to retreat. Fifty people were hospitalized as a result. In response to this violence, Dr. King called for another march.
On March 9, during the “Ministers March,” 2,000 protesters once again gathered at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Upon encountering state troopers, they chose to return to Selma to avoid another violent confrontation.
The third and final march began on March 21, this time under Federal and State protection to prevent attacks. Over 8,000 protesters marched for five days until they reached Montgomery.
By March 25, the crowd had swelled to 25,000 people. King upon reaching the Alabama State Capitol building said in his famous “How Long? Not Long…” speech, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” reflecting his belief that justice will eventually triumph over injustice.
On Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, the DoD honors King’s legacy and the freedom, equality, and inclusion he stood for. Together, we can live up to his standard, combat injustice, and serve our communities on this holiday because it is “A Day On, Not A Day Off!”
| Date Taken: | 01.13.2025 |
| Published: | 01-15-25 10:54 AM |
| Graphic ID: | 33881 |
| VIRIN: | 250113-D-CF733-1002 |
| Size: | 885.72 KB |
| Location: | PATRICK SFB, FLORIDA, US |
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