Advocacy to Raise Awareness about Voting Rights and Supreme Court Redistricting Ruling
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Huntsville, Ala. – March 7, 1965, John Lewis and a brave group of individuals marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma Alabama in route to Montgomery’s Capitol to advocate for the right to vote. They were met by a sea of Alabama state troopers who savagely beat them, caught on camera and video for the nation and world to see. 57 years later, Alabamians are still fighting for equal voting rights for its minority residents.
Alabama State House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, State Representative Laura Hall, and United Women of Color in partnership with several community organizations will host a virtual bridge crossing commemoration on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at 6 PM CST. The event will stream live from the United Women of Color Facebook Page. Sheyann Webb-Christburg, named the “Smallest Freedom Fighter” by the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will share her story and history with Selma and subsequent bridge crossings. Webb-Christburg will be interviewed by Madison Saylee, an honor student in the sixth grade at Grace Lutheran School and the first youth to receive the Laura Hall Humanitarian Award from the Rosa Parks Committee of Huntsville/Madison County. Our event, entitled, “Solidarity with Selma” will also include a moderated panel discussion about the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Alabama’s redistricting maps and current legislation introduced to sup- press voters’ rights. Some of the panelists include state legislator and attorney Rep. Prince Chestnut and Monica Riley of the ACLU and the Alabama Voters Rights Coalition (AVRC).
David Person of David Person Media,LLC, will moderate the panel discussion. There will also be singing by First Missionary Baptist Church Dr. Janette Kotey, a historical significance presented by Nancy Ward of First Baptist Church(Governors Dr) as well as a video premiere by AVO Communications regarding bridge crossings of the past and protests of the present day.
This community event is free to the public focusing on redistricting and voting rights. It is an opportunity for those who can’t travel to Selma to show their solidarity and participate locally.
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About United Women of Color: United Women of Color is an inclusive and diverse 501(c)(3) organization prioritizing BIPOC women, girls, and families. We aim to restore human dignity by working side-by-side with community residents focusing on advocacy, civic engagement, and empowerment through education.