Selma civil rights milestone marked by first black president

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By JAY REEVES and DARLENE SUPERVILLE

SELMA, Ala. (AP) — America's racial history "still casts its long shadow upon us," President Barack Obama said Saturday as he stood in solidarity and remembrance with civil rights activists whose beatings by police a half-century ago galvanized much of the nation against racial oppression and hastened passage of historic voting rights for minorities. Tens of thousands of people joined to commemorate the "Bloody Sunday" march of 1965 and take stock of the struggle for equality.

Under a bright sun, the first black U.S. president praised the figures of a civil rights era that he was too young to know but that helped him break the ultimate racial barrier in political history with his ascension to the highest office. He called them "warriors of justice" who pushed America closer to a more perfect union.

"So much of our turbulent history — the stain of slavery and anguish of civil war, the yoke of segregation and tyranny of Jim Crow, the death of four little girls in Birmingham, and the dream of a Baptist preacher — met on this bridge," Obama told the crowd before taking a symbolic walk across part of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where the 1965 march erupted into police violence.

"It was not a clash of armies, but a clash of wills, a contest to determine the meaning of America," Obama said. He was 3 years old at the time of the march.

FULL story at link.



People take photos near a stage where President Barack Obama will speak and then take a symbolic walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Saturday, March 7, 2015, in Selma, Ala. This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday,' a civil rights march in which protestors were beaten, trampled and tear-gassed by police at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, in Selma. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150307/us-selma-50th-2a8c625430.html

[boguspotus]

1. Just watched the speech:

Totally great speech. I agree, one of his best. And as much as I dislike George W. (the real "boguspotus&quot , it was really good that he and his wife were there.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. CSPAN video of the speech

with intro by John Lewis (the President appears about the 9 minute mark)-

http://www.c-span.org/video/?324607-3/president-obama-representative-john-lewis-selma-50th-anniversary

[LeftOfWest]

3. What a day!!!

Thanks for the links and post Steve!

[handmade34]

4. a Joy!!

[PsychGrad]

5. It bothers me that so many people...

refer to our President as simply "black". He is not black, he is not white, he is biracial. Biracial people in this country have had an even harder go than those of either race at times - and to not acknowledge this important part of our President's racial identity is a disservice to him and to all the other biracial Americans today. It's important to remember that this identity is an even smaller percentage of our minority population than if he was 100% black. I am ready for a woman president and a black president - but this president is biracial. Stop allowing white America that whole "one drop of blood" bullshit by not recognizing this, please.

[Judi Lynn]

6. The President was three years old when the Selma march occurred. Amazing. He was lucky.

Had he known more about the time, and the depth of the hatred toward minorities of all kinds, he would probably never have been as optimistic about the people he would be meeting in Washington, representing these sociopaths!

It is a milestone day, regardless of the problems still ahead. Thank you for this article.

[Cha]

7. Selma~50 years later~

Mahalo Steve~

[Snow Leopard]

8. Was there security concerns

That held back the populace. His march had about 40 people. I expected thousands. Was watching at a bar so no sound. Will google his speech later.

[hopemountain]

9. a buffer, perhaps?

from the article:

"Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their daughters walked about a third of the way across, accompanied by Lewis, who has given fellow lawmakers countless tours of this scene. Bush, his wife, Laura, and scores of others came with them before a larger crowd followed." - ap news

[Snow Leopard]

10. must have been

as I saw a different picture with thousands

[hopemountain]

11. yes, estimated at 80,000 marchers

the photos are quite moving.