50 Years Later, How Much Has Changed?

On March 7th, 1965, an estimated 600 brave Americans walked solemnly across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in a march for voting rights that marked the "political and emotional peak of the American Civil Rights Movement".  Now known as 'Bloody Sunday,' this day was a horrifying example of police brutality - clubs, tear gas, hand-to-hand combat, and more was used to physically beat down the marchers until they were forced to turn around. But mentally, they were undeterred. They came back even stronger two days later, on what is now called 'Turn Around Tuesday,' and again on March 21st, when they were finally able to finish their march to Montgomery. The determination of the marchers gave "courage to millions," and their actions will forever be seen as some of the most remarkable in American history.

Flash forward 50 years, and we wonder, how much has changed? 

Peaceful Protests: Selma 1965 vs Ferguson 2014

On Saturday, President Obama visited Selma to commemorate the sacrifices the marchers made for the Civil Rights movement, and in his speech, he pointed out that "Right now, in 2015, 50 years after Selma, there are laws across this country designed to make it harder for people to vote. As we speak, more of such laws are being proposed." Not only is it true that more voting restrictions have been placed, but we seem to be seeing police brutality to this day that is eerily reminiscent of that in 1965.

Police brutality: Selma 1965 vs Ferguson 2014

It is indescribably unfortunate that despite the sacrifices of those involved in the Civil Rights movement all those years ago, things like this are still going on today. And while strides have been made in the fight for racial equality in America, "This nation's long racial history still casts its long shadow upon us. We know the march is not yet over, the race is not yet won" (Obama in Selma, March 7th). As proven by yet another shooting of an unarmed black teen two days ago and the whitewashed Oscars two weeks ago, Obama is absolutely correct in saying that "the race is not yet won." It seems that right now America is in its own, modern form of 'Bloody Sunday.' But, hopefully soon, justice can be found for Trayvon, Michael, Eric, and the countless others who have died for the crime of being black in America. Hopefully soon, we will be able to overcome years of systemic racism and march all the way to Montgomery, and equality.