Two Bloody Sundays: Civil Rights in America and Ireland
A LETTER FROM DUCHESS In 1965 African Americans in Selma Alabama marched for the right to vote In 1972 Catholics in Derry Northern Ireland marched against injustice in their own nation Both peaceful protests ended in violence and the events in both places became known as Bloody Sunday On the surface you might not be able to imagine what Derry and Selma had in common but the Catholics in Ireland saw similarities in their struggles They felt a connection with black Americans in the southern United States Both groups were fighting for their civil rights Throughout history the struggle for civil rights has not been limited to one time or place These movements have influenced each other in important ways Please join me in learning about Selma’s impact on Northern Ireland Join me in a journey that tells the story of the promise of freedom
President Barack Obama spoke at the site of the Bloody Sunday in Selma Alabama on the fiftieth anniversary of the event
CHAPTER ONE
BLOODY SUNDAYS The morning of March 7 1965 was cool and crisp It was a good day for a march Six hundred black protesters gathered outside Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Selma Alabama The protesters were ready to walk the 54 miles 87 km to Alabama’s state capital Montgomery They were protesting barriers that kept them from voting In the South African Americans were often forced to take literacy tests or pay a poll tax in order to vote The protesters hoped their march would change this Activists including John Lewis second from right held hands and sang protest songs before the attempted march in Selma Alabama
