Montgomery, AL – Labor leaders, civil rights activists, and faith communities will gather on Friday, March 14, to mark the 60th anniversary of the historic Selma to Montgomery march and “Bloody Sunday.” The event will take place at 11:30 a.m. CT in front of the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, near the Alabama State Capitol.
Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, will be joined by Alabama AFL-CIO President Bren Riley, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) President Stuart Appelbaum, and Dr. Ericka Wills from the University of Wisconsin–Madison School for Workers. Together, they will reflect on the legacy of the march and the intersection of the labor movement with the civil rights struggle.
The event will follow a march to Montgomery, after which labor leaders will hold a press conference to discuss the ongoing relevance of the movement. Organizers emphasize that economic justice and labor rights have historically played a crucial role in the fight for racial equity, a connection they say remains significant amid recent labor organizing efforts and union activity across the South.
The Selma to Montgomery march, a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, took place in March 1965 and was instrumental in the passage of the Voting Rights Act. The commemoration will highlight the enduring impact of that struggle and the continued advocacy for workers’ rights and social justice.
The gathering will be held at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, located at 454 Dexter Avenue in Montgomery.
