"In 1965, ordinary people walked out of Brown Chapel AME Church and onto the Edmund Pettus Bridge, asking for one fundamental thing: to be seen. To be counted. To be treated as full citizens in their own country."
"Out of the blood on that bridge came two of the most transformative laws in American history: the Voting Rights Act and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. The VRA didn't just change rules-it changed who could have power."
"It forced states with long histories of racist voter suppression to get federal approval before changing their election laws. It gave communities real tools to fight racial gerrymanders, at-large schemes, and the thousand quiet tricks designed to make sure Black and brown voters could be counted but never truly count."
A new generation of organizers from diverse communities gathered in Selma, Alabama, to continue the fight for civil rights and demand recognition as full citizens. This movement echoes the struggles of 1965, where individuals sought the right to vote and faced violent opposition. The Voting Rights Act and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 were pivotal in transforming American democracy, empowering marginalized communities and challenging systemic racism. The legacy of these laws is under threat, highlighting the ongoing relevance of Selma's history in today's fight for equality.
Read at The Nation
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