"Bloody Sunday" was the first of three marches from Selma to Montgomery. It took place on March 7, 1965. The marches were sparked because of unfair treatment to African Americans, and the fact that white locals were trying to deny them of the right to vote. The name "Bloody Sunday" came about as a result of the state and local police attacking the marchers with tear gas and clubs. The marches started with the Dallas County Voters League calling on the help of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other organizations to help them organize and fight for equal rights. Voting, being the foundation of democracy, was a vital tool that the African American community needed to utilize. Fortunately, the community would not just sit there quietly and allow their rights to be kept from them, so a bunch of brave souls banned together and fought for what was right. These marches, rallies, and other actions all helped fuel what is known as the civil rights movement. In essence, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and these brave soldiers in the war against inequality left a legacy of fairness for the future generations of African Americans. Not only did they earn voting rights, they earned a better life and a leg to stand on. This was a local win, but it had national effects. It may have seemed like a small win because it was on the local level, but the implications were bigger than that. There is always going to be various roadblocks to try and keep different communities weak or even out of the democratic system, but Dr. King and the others left a model on how to fight back and succeed. They basically paved the road for generations to follow, regardless if they are black or not.
(sources include
http://nvrmi.com and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Sunday_(1965)#First_March:_.22Bloody_Sunday.22)
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