This week in history marks a very important step in the Civil Rights Movement. In March of 1965 in the state of Alabama the historic march from Selma to Montgomery began. Led by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Junior over 600 individuals began their 54 mile trek to Montgomery.
This march was in an attempt to raise awareness for the trials that faced African American voters at the time in hopes of legislation that would help voter registration in the state. This march was one of the contributing factors that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that helped guarantee the rights originally promised in the 15th amendment to all American Citizens to vote, by abolishing literacy tests and allowing for more federal oversights in local and state elections.
Besides the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 can be noted as one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation of all time.
(Information courtesy of History.com)
