John,
Today marks the anniversary of “Bloody Sunday.”
On this day in 1965, police attacked peaceful protesters as they marched from Selma, Alabama, to the state capitol in Montgomery, Alabama. Police used billy clubs, whips, and tear gas to attack hundreds of civil rights activists who were protesting the denial of voting rights to Black people.
The police brutally attacked peaceful attendees of the march on horses, wielding weapons and chasing down EVERYONE – including women and children. Countless people were hospitalized with severe injuries.
Sources: Equal Justice Initiative Photo Library, 1965 Spider Martin, NMAAH
Unfortunately, as we've witnessed and experienced time and again, we know that
history tends to repeat itself – especially in the U.S., where we've refused to take accountability for our past or take action against destroying systems of oppression.
Similar to the Bloody Sunday protests were the record-breaking racial justice uprisings from the Summer of 2020. Take a look:
Sources: CBS News, Matt Slocum/AP Photo
John, it's anniversaries like these; we must remember that we still have endless work to do. Just like Bloody Sunday, the 2020 protests being documented and broadcasted are a reminder that police violence is not a thing of the past but a thing that is still thriving in modern society.
Until we eradicate white supremacy and end state-sanctioned violence in totality, our fight is not over. Chip in $7 to help fuel our efforts. If you can, make it monthly so we can be prepared to respond to police violence at any moment.
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter
