MLK Monument -- Brown Chapel AME Church, Selma AL - Civil Rights Memorials on Waymarking.com

Blasterz have no idea how many black-owned homes and businesses were bulldozed in the late 1940s to build the George Washington Carver Homes Housing project in Selma, but fortunately the Brown Chapel AME Church was spared.

The three separate Selma-Montgomery Voting Rights Marches started in front of the Brown Chapel AME Church: (1) the one of 7 Mar 1965 that ended on Bloody Sunday at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge where AL State troopers attacked and beat peaceful civil rights protestors, (2) The symbolic "Turn Around Tuesday" march on 9 Mar 1965, where the marchers turned around at the Edmund Pettus bridge, and (3) the final successful march from 21-26 March 1965 that ended on Bloody Sunday, and the one that ended on the steps of the AL State Capitol in Montgomery after the federal government compelled the state authorities to protect the marchers.

A grey granite monument in front of the church reads as follows:

"[L SIDE]

[bronze plaque]
I HAVE A DREAM

They gave their lives
to overcome injustice
and secure the right
to vote for all Americans

JAMES REEB
Boston

VIOLA GREGG LIUZZO
Detroit

JIMMY LEE JACKSON
Marion, Alabama

DEDICATED
August 11
1979

This was the
starting point
of the March
from Selma
to Montgomery
March 21, 1965

Project conceived and
edited by executive
Secretary Robert H. Miller
1896-1979

[R SIDE]
[bronze bust of Dr Martin Luther King Jr]

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

The demonstrations that led to the most important advance in civil rights for millions of black Americans began here March 21, 1965. It was the 50 mile march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, the state capital.

Defying threats of death, Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior, led 400 black and white Americans on the longest largest most dramatic [covered up] March of his 13 year career.

It gave Southern Blacks the right as citizens to cast a ballot and help determine and help operate the government under which they live. In the succeeding 10 years, black voters increased from 1,463,000 to 3,845,000 in black elected officials from 72 to 2568 in the states affected. Hundreds of others were named to public posts. Blacks attained a more equitable share of tax benefits and one greater self esteem and respect from others as voting citizens. All these things flowed from what began here.

This is a tribute to those who planned, encouraged, marched, were jailed, beaten and died to change black Americans from second-class to first-class citizens."

Civil Right Type: Race (includes U.S. Civil Rights movement)

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