Let us remain standing as that great distinguished theologian the president of the San Francisco Theological Seminary and who walked from brown chapel ame church all the way to this spot the reverend dr. Theodore gill will pronounce the invocation. Dr. Gill may i pray first . For myself and my brothers on the steps behind us. And in the windows around us and the prayer is not mine. Father in heaven, forgive us our trespasses. Amen and now for all of us, god of all nations b,lless this nation. Use its strength and beauty the justice we walked for in these days spread to the ends of the earth we have lived in and lived on on the road, and bless to us all this occasion that we may be more adequate to every occasion for jesus sake. Amen. In montgomery, governor wallace has just issue a message saying that he will not see any group of citizens until after the march has concluded and dispersed. When this is done, he will see any group of citizens from the state of alabama. At the speakers pl
Petition to the honorable george c. Wallace issued of god, citizen of the United States and governor of the state of alabama. We, as citizens of alabama citizens of many states in our United States and citizens of several foreign countries, come praying the blessing of god upon you and we, many responsibilities that are yours to discharge. We come petitioning you to join us in spirit and in truth in what is historys and Americas Movement toward the great society. A nation of justice where none shall prey upon the weakness of other, a nation of plenty where greed and poverty shall be done away, a nation of brotherhood where success is founded upon service and honor given for nobleness alone. We have come to represent the negro citizens of alabama and freedom loving people from all over the United States and the world. We have come not only 65 days and 60 miles but we have come from three centuries of suffering and hardship. We have come to you, the governor of alabama, to declare that w
Is africanamerican. We have made an important statement as a country. We have to continue to work at this thing. If we dont continue to step forward, we will go backwards. Because the world is moving. To stand still is to go back. We have to keep moving forward. Thats what the movement is about. Moving forward, recognizing those changes we still have to make. Host a commemoration today on the 50th anniversary of bloody sunday. Call American History tv at reverend lafayette, you were in selma, alabama several years right or to the marches, the events that happened in march of 1965. Tell us how you ended up in selma, alabama p we heard the story about the x on the map marking selma off. You went anyway. What is the story there . What happened is those of us from asheville had decided that since we had the sit in movement and we continued the freedom rides, once we started the freedom rides, we decided if we would give a fulltime for a couple of years, it would be like the peace corps, bo
Woodie gutherie is most famous for writing this land is your land. He was born in oklahoma and we are very proud to have his work back in oklahoma where we think it belongs. He was an advocate for people who were disenfranchised. For those people who were Migrant Workers from Oklahoma Kansas and texas during the era who have found them else in california, literally starving. Woodie recorded very few songs of his own. We have a listening station that features 46 of his songs in his own voice. Thats what makes the recordings that he did make so significant and so important to us. Watch all of our events from tulsa saturday, at noon eastern on cspan2s book tv and sunday on American History tv on cspan3. That day, march 7, became known as bloody sunday. 18 days later, with armed protection of the u. S. Army and Alabama National guard provided on the orders of president joan son, the protesters completed the fourday march from selma, the Alabama State capitol. Up next three hours of abc New
Please welcome the president of the United States and mrs. Michelle obama, accompanied by mr. And mrs. Mr. George bush and mrs. Laura bush and accompanied by john lewis. [ hail to the chief playing] [cheers and applause] [cheering] good afternoon again. I have the distinct pleasure to introduce to you, the governor of alabama, governor Robert Bentley. [applause] president obama mrs. Obama president bush, mrs. Bush, congressman lewis congressman sewall mayor evans it is an honor for me to be on the stage with you today and welcome all of these people to this great state of alabama. Its a personal honor for me to join in todays historic occasion on the Edmund Pettus bridge that has become a monument itself to the struggle for civil rights over the past 50 years. This bridge represents the strength and determination, the loss and pain that have come to define the Civil Rights Movement in america. Its an honor for me to stand here among you today on behalf of the state of alabama. 50 years