Reflecting on History: A Visit to Selma, AL for the 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
Spending time in Selma, Alabama for the sixtieth anniversary of Bloody Sunday was always going to be emotional. I expected that and embraced it; humanity is nothing to hide. I arrived in town a few days before the celebrations to see the multiple historical markers, visit the EJI Legacy Sites, and meet with local leaders. As I crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge last weekend–sixty years after Bloody Sunday–a wave of gratitude swept over me. I was deeply moved by the powerful imagery of the freedom fighters who walked before me.
Walking this route filled me with gratitude for the courage, humanity, and planning of the activists who led us here. Despite having so much progress to celebrate, the fact that in 2025, we are still facing similar challenges overwhelmed me. Equal protection under the law for all US citizens is not being enforced.
As I reflected on the continuous threats from lawmakers seeking to consolidate power through limiting access to the ballot, I was overcome with sorrow. Visiting Selma was a reality check, reminding me how critical it is to have leaders who will advocate for federal protections and stand up for an inclusive, representative democracy.
At You Can Vote, voters often tell us that they don’t think it matters who is in power because they don’t see anything changing. Elected officials are hired by the people who vote, and we must be active bosses in our daily citizenry. I came away with a renewed fervor to support voters and to call attention to laws aimed at taking us backward in the fight for civil rights.
We must demand voting rights now and voting rights forever. Equal access to the ballot box is a right for every single American. I hope our common humanity and quest for equality can guide us on the journey for progress.
