Memorable moments of 'Bloody Sunday'
- March 8, 2015
- / Michael Lowery
- / community-dashboard
Sunday was another beautiful and sunny day in Selma.
[caption id="attachment_19462" align="alignright" width="216"]
Michael A. Lowery is chairman of the Escambia County Democratic Executive Committee and president / business agent for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1395 in Pensacola.[/caption]
Without a doubt this day turned out to be the most memorable.
As we walked the streets of Selma, we found some free time to shop for 50th year Commemorating Bloody Sunday T-shirts.
One of our traveling partners, Forest English, took off searching the food vendors for the best sausage sandwich in town.
On this day we stood on the street watching the jumbo TV screen and the live feed of Congressman John Lewis of Georgia giving a motivational speech from Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church.
Walking around Selma, we spotted Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Deval. He stood by his car and took the time to take photos but pleasantly insisted I had to take off my New York Mets cap.
As we stood at the bottom of the bridge joining what seemed to be more than 50 thousand other people ready to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, we spotted WEAR-TV Channel 3 reporter Anthony Pura. He interviewed our group.
How exciting for the kids in our group to know that back home their friends would see them on TV being part of a major and memorable event.
[caption id="attachment_19481" align="alignright" width="169"]
From left to right: Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Deval, Nevaeh Lowery and Mike Lowery in Selma, Ala., on Bloody Sunday commemoration.[/caption]
The march began and it was an emotional and inspirational moment that I hope my daughter won't ever forget.
The singing, the hugs and the feeling of being one people brought tears to my eyes as we reached the top of the bridge.
I gazed toward the bottom of the bridge wondering what was going through the minds of the foot soldiers in 1965 when they saw the Alabama State Police with billy clubs, gas masks and horses.
How brave they must have been that day, to hold their ground in the two-man formation before being beaten on Bloody Sunday in March 1965.
The experience on Saturday also was a day to remember. Our group left the hotel in Montgomery at 6 a.m, and headed west on Highway 80 toward Selma.
The drive to Dallas County has beautiful country scenery: Open fields with grazing cows and horses.
As we approached Selma it became apparent that our day would be dealing with heavy traffic and standing in lines.
We sat in traffic as several dignitaries in police motorcades passed by. With each motorcade everyone jumped out of their cars catch a glimpse of President Barack Obama or former President George W. Bush. It was more likely members of Congress.
Two hours in traffic, we finally parking near the event. As we walked through the neighborhoods, it was disconcerting to see that Selma was a city with economic hardships. There were closed businesses and magnificent old southern homes that have seen better days.
The weather was brisk but warming up quickly.
As we walked up to the staging area, it became evident we were going to face hours of standing in line to see the president speak.
Lines wrapped around blocks and blocks of streets. The security checkpoint wasn't even in sight.
While standing in line it became the highlight of the day when we started talking to folks from all over the country.
Instantly we made new friends as we stood in line together for the historic event.
A young couple from Savannah shared conversations of voting for the first time in 2008.
I met a lady from Seattle who's father was a freedom rider.
It was hard to stand in line but people were friendly and kind. It was well worth it to endure the traffic and crowd to hear the wonderful conversations.
After four hours we finally made it through the checkpoint. Thousands of people crowded Board Street ,straining to glimpse the president.
We never got close enough to see President Obama or the First Lady but the experience will live with us forever.
People are good and the love for our country is strong.
As we celebrate the Voting Rights Act, it is important to educate our younger generations to appreciate the value of the vote. The foot soldiers in Selma give that opportunity to cherish that right.
We finished off the day attending the Freedom Flame Banquet and seeing icons like Dick Gregory and actor and activist Danny Grover. It was a privilege to listen firsthand to their important and inspiring messages.
This trip was well worth it. I'm so proud of my friend Rev. H.K. Matthews, a legend in Pensacola and civil rights icon.
I am so proud of all the people who made the effort to attend this historic event, especially those from Escambia County.
I’m even more proud of my 13-year-old daughter, Nevaeh, who after seeing the movie, “Selma”, wanted to see and learn about this day and place in American history, a day to remember and never to forget.
Michael A. Lowery is chairman of the Escambia County Democratic Executive Committee and president / business agent for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1395 in Pensacola.[/caption]
Without a doubt this day turned out to be the most memorable.
As we walked the streets of Selma, we found some free time to shop for 50th year Commemorating Bloody Sunday T-shirts.
One of our traveling partners, Forest English, took off searching the food vendors for the best sausage sandwich in town.
On this day we stood on the street watching the jumbo TV screen and the live feed of Congressman John Lewis of Georgia giving a motivational speech from Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church.
Walking around Selma, we spotted Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Deval. He stood by his car and took the time to take photos but pleasantly insisted I had to take off my New York Mets cap.
As we stood at the bottom of the bridge joining what seemed to be more than 50 thousand other people ready to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, we spotted WEAR-TV Channel 3 reporter Anthony Pura. He interviewed our group.
How exciting for the kids in our group to know that back home their friends would see them on TV being part of a major and memorable event.
[caption id="attachment_19481" align="alignright" width="169"]
From left to right: Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Deval, Nevaeh Lowery and Mike Lowery in Selma, Ala., on Bloody Sunday commemoration.[/caption]
The march began and it was an emotional and inspirational moment that I hope my daughter won't ever forget.
The singing, the hugs and the feeling of being one people brought tears to my eyes as we reached the top of the bridge.
I gazed toward the bottom of the bridge wondering what was going through the minds of the foot soldiers in 1965 when they saw the Alabama State Police with billy clubs, gas masks and horses.
How brave they must have been that day, to hold their ground in the two-man formation before being beaten on Bloody Sunday in March 1965.
The experience on Saturday also was a day to remember. Our group left the hotel in Montgomery at 6 a.m, and headed west on Highway 80 toward Selma.
The drive to Dallas County has beautiful country scenery: Open fields with grazing cows and horses.
As we approached Selma it became apparent that our day would be dealing with heavy traffic and standing in lines.
We sat in traffic as several dignitaries in police motorcades passed by. With each motorcade everyone jumped out of their cars catch a glimpse of President Barack Obama or former President George W. Bush. It was more likely members of Congress.
Two hours in traffic, we finally parking near the event. As we walked through the neighborhoods, it was disconcerting to see that Selma was a city with economic hardships. There were closed businesses and magnificent old southern homes that have seen better days.
The weather was brisk but warming up quickly.
As we walked up to the staging area, it became evident we were going to face hours of standing in line to see the president speak.
Lines wrapped around blocks and blocks of streets. The security checkpoint wasn't even in sight.
While standing in line it became the highlight of the day when we started talking to folks from all over the country.
Instantly we made new friends as we stood in line together for the historic event.
A young couple from Savannah shared conversations of voting for the first time in 2008.
I met a lady from Seattle who's father was a freedom rider.
It was hard to stand in line but people were friendly and kind. It was well worth it to endure the traffic and crowd to hear the wonderful conversations.
After four hours we finally made it through the checkpoint. Thousands of people crowded Board Street ,straining to glimpse the president.
We never got close enough to see President Obama or the First Lady but the experience will live with us forever.
People are good and the love for our country is strong.
As we celebrate the Voting Rights Act, it is important to educate our younger generations to appreciate the value of the vote. The foot soldiers in Selma give that opportunity to cherish that right.
We finished off the day attending the Freedom Flame Banquet and seeing icons like Dick Gregory and actor and activist Danny Grover. It was a privilege to listen firsthand to their important and inspiring messages.
This trip was well worth it. I'm so proud of my friend Rev. H.K. Matthews, a legend in Pensacola and civil rights icon.
I am so proud of all the people who made the effort to attend this historic event, especially those from Escambia County.
I’m even more proud of my 13-year-old daughter, Nevaeh, who after seeing the movie, “Selma”, wanted to see and learn about this day and place in American history, a day to remember and never to forget.
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