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This is a very special event as thousands march from Browns Chapel Church over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. This commemorates "Bloody Sunday" where civil rights marchers on a journey from Selma to Montgomery were beaten and bloodied.
"In 2015, the bridge will be 75 years old and ("Bloody Sunday") will have happened 50 years ago," he said.
In commemorative terms, that means one will celebrate its golden anniversary and the other its diamond anniversary.
"I'm sure Selma will come up with something special to mark those occasions that year," Harris said.
Yesterday, Congressional candidate Shelia Smoot (AL-07) kicked off her campaign in Selma, Alabama with a rally at the vacant Good Samaritan Hospital . The Good Samaritan was used as an effective backdrop to point out the connection between a civil rights era landmark and the current lack of access to health care in poor and rural areas in AL-07. This hospital was Selma's only African American hospital during the segregation era in Alabama. The hospital closed its doors in 1983.
(Father Maurice Ouellet visiting a parishioner at Good Samaritan Hospital)
"So when we go to Congress, we go together. And I'll take the community's wishes with me to Washington, D.C."
Jefferson County Commissioner Shelia Smoot, with a lot of energy and excitement, officially rolled out her campaign to become the first woman elected to represent Alabama in Congress with a bus tour through the 7th Congressional District.
Shelia Smoot will be kicking off her campaign for Congress this weekend with a three stop tour in the Alabama 7th Congressional District.
Selma : 9:00 - Old Good Samaritan Hospital - a historical venue which was the African-American hospital for Selma and much of the Black Belt during much of the turmoil of the civil rights movement in the 1960's. Those attacked on Edmund Pettus bridge were treated at Good Samaritan.
Tuscaloosa : 12:00 - Capital Park
Lipscomb: 3:00 - Oak Park Villas - This is a senior housing community in the heart of Jefferson County (going west on I-20 toward Bessemer)
Hank Sanders told WSFA news in Montgomery he will not seek re-election in 2010. Alabama political insiders had been speculating for weeks that Sanders would not run for the Senate in 2010. Sanders statement also seems rule out any chance that he would run for the U.S. House 7th Congressional Seat vacancy.
I will not run for re-election in 2010. This political phase of my life is complete, and it is time for me to move on to new challenges, new responsibilities and new commitments. In particular I want to finish writing a series of books I started several years ago but could not make the time to finish then.
Amidst all the speculation of who might jump in the 2010 AL-07 open congressional seat battle royale, one name mentioned said he will not compete. The Selma-Times Journal reported yesterday that former Mayor James Perkins simply said "No" that he would not could not be a candidate with Green Eggs and Ham Sam I am. I made up the green eggs and ham and sam I am part.
Of course Perkins had no real strong voting base outside of Dallas County and losing a mayoral election certainly would not have boded well for having to run and get name recognition throughout the District. We had heard that Perkins simply lost touch with his constituents.
The article also states that they do not believe State Senator Hank Sanders would not be a candidate either.
Another Selma name, that of Sen. Hank Sanders, also has been offered as a potential on the Democratic ticket for the 7th District House race. Sanders has worked hard in the Alabama Legislature for the Black Belt region and for the state as a whole. We'd think Sanders would not make a dash to risk what he could do for this region just to go to the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
If this were 6-10 years ago I think Sanders would have had a much stronger presence on a ballot. Reports also has his wife more interested in him getting into this race that he might.
Lot of interesting rumblings in Alabama politics today.
1. There is a lot of talk about a Federal Grand Jury investigating Alabama Attorney General Troy King. Doc's Political Parlor has the links to all the stories. Some thing it is purely political and others are quite happy to see the AG in this position.
2. Montgomery is having a Mayoral Election today. Six candidates are running to replace Congressman Bobby Bright. Conventional wisdom is that today's election will produce Todd Strange in a runoff with Michael Briddell. However, a lot will depend on turnout and of course Strange could get 50% + 1 to avoid a runoff altogether.
3. I've heard from a few different reliable sources that Selma Senator Hank Sanders may consider jumping in the 2010 7th Congressional District to replace Artur Davis. Of course this is all speculation and nobody will confirm or deny this rumor. I will say that it could change some of the dynamics at play although I'm on board with my candidate.
Today marked the annual reenactment of the Selma to Montgomery Bloody Sunday march. Civil rights leaders, Congressional Leaders and others commemorated the original event held on March 7, 1965 where marchers were beaten by State Troopers. I made the trek to Selma for the 4th time to take part in the celebration. Unfortunately, I did not arrive this year for the service at Brown Chapel AME Church where Attorney General Eric Holder was present.
I stood on the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge to observe those marching. I usually march from Brown Chapel Church, but I wanted to get a different perspective this year.
1. Former Alabama Governor Guy Hunt passed away today. Will Gov. Hunt be remembered more for being the first Alabama Republican Governor since reconstruction or being removed from office?
By all accounts he was a low key guy but a gentleman. I remember like yesterday when he won the election after a divided and bitter Democratic primary between Bill Baxley and Charlie Graddick killed the Democratic party in Alabama.
2. The organizers of the Selma Jubilee Bridge Crossing invited Jeremiah Wright to be a part of this years festivities and annual reenactment. Congressman Artur Davis blasted the leaders for this invitation . I'm not sure what to make of these comments by Davis. I definitely do not think Wright should play too prominent of a role in an event that honors the past as well as promotes a sense of unity.
When in Law School, I stumbled upon Chestnut's "Black in Selma: Even though I only met Mr. Chestnut one time, I found his book to be an invaluable resource of being a real lawyer. I think that there was a reason that I kept stumbling upon the book left in the student lounge. I finally took it home with me and I never returned it after reading several pages.
I struggled with what I would name this diary after learning of Mr. Chestnut's death.
The AP Story titled its story 1st Black Lawyer in Selma. J.L. Chestnut will certainly be remember for breaking the racial barrier in Selma, Alabama and perhaps much of the credit for that should be owed to his autobiography tittle.
And for those that do not know much about the civil rights movement, being the first black attorney in Selma was quite an accomplishment that should not be overlooked.
However, J.L. Chestnut should be remembered for much more. The Alabama Legal Community has lost a legend and by all accounts a character. When remembering the names of Civil Rights attorneys, J.L. Chestnut was one of the first names that comes to mind. J.L. Chestnut time and time again used his legal career to improve the quality of life for so many.
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