Statement from Neal Kelley and Judge James Tatum Commemorating Anniversary of Bloody Sunday

March 7, 2024 – “Fifty-nine years ago today, hundreds of peaceful protesters set off from Selma, Alabama in an effort to register Black voters in the South, only to be met with brutal violence from state troopers and a posse of others as the marchers crossed Edmund Pettus Bridge. The horrifying images shook our nation’s conscience and forced America to reckon with the ongoing efforts to deny Black Americans the right to vote. The terror of that day is a reminder that all of us — citizens, lawmakers, election workers, and law enforcement — must work to preserve the right of our fellow Americans to participate freely in the democratic system on which our great nation is built.

The challenges our democratic system faces today are different than they were nearly sixty years ago, but still deadly serious. On this year’s anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (CSSE) commemorates those brave marchers, whose heroism and courage helped advance the Voting Rights Act. And we continue our work to ensure that law enforcement today is protecting voters, poll workers, and election officials – ensuring they can participate in our democracy without fear, violence, and harassment.”