Forty five years from today President Lyndon Johnson signed the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This weekend celebrations are taking in place in Selma, Alabama where marches as part of the voting rights campaign led to the signing of this act. However, youth are being denied the opportunity as part of a diverse group called Project Dance, to dance on the Edmund Pettus Bridge this weekend.
Today the youth organized a protest/rally at City Hall where they danced then marched across the bridge and again dance the Jai Ho Dance on the other side of the bridge.
Why is it important for the dance to happen on the bridge?
Julie McGowan, one of the organizers said
"The bridge is a direct symbol of the oppression and struggle for equality and unity. If it were to happen on the bridge, it would represent a new symbol of people coming together and it would show how much progress we’ve made since Bloody Sunday."
The day started at 11 at the Selma Community Church where the youth danced and talked about what this event meant to them. The youth protested at City Hall and then proceeded across the bridge. The morning celebration culminated with a series of Jai Ho dances at the Civil Memorial Park at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge.