Mexico that helps supply americas drug addiction. Thousands of people gathered in selma alabama to remember the citys pivotal role in the civil rights movement. Today they honoured former president Lyndon Johnson for signing the Voting Rights act in 1965. He was motivated by what happened in selma. 6,000 marched to Montgomery Barack obama to protest fair voting laws. They were med with bloody violence. There were tributes to the civil rights leaders. Many say theres more to go. Tony harris is there. Youve been there all week, it was the culmination of the week. Youre right. The day began in a symbolic and historic place. Brown chapel ame church. 50 years ago it was the organizational hub of the selma marches marches. 50 years ago the names from malcolm x, and Martin Luther king junior. Today it was the attorney general eric holder, and king iii at the selma moment at brown chappell. When we think about what Martin Luther king would want us to do. I imagine hed tell us that work was not
[captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2015] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] treat us cspanhistory. Take us back 50 years ago today. What was some like . And what led up to the idea of the march to montgomery in the first place . Reverend lafayette well, it was a very extraordinary. Extraordinary period in our history. Because what we were doing was basically giving a voice to the people who are voiceless. And that is what all these movements are about. Helping to give people a voice who otherwise would not be heard. We feel that if the voices of the poor, the voices of the disenfranchised, the voices of the suffering people are heard other people will respond. So, selma, alabama is that example of where people around the country and around the world heard the voices crying out for people not being treated equally as human beings. Now, the reason we were going to my com
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
Of the legacy and go forward in courage. Thank you. [applause] good afternoon. To the faith in politics delegation, to all of the foot soldiers, and to all of my Christian Brothers and sisters in christ, i am the mayor of somaelma and then here to send greetings to you, all of you that have joined us for this momentous occasion. President obama is not here yet, however i want to extend the courtesy to them as well as to the bush family. I say to president barack obama thank you for coming to some a once again. On behalf of the city council and to all of the citizens of soma in selma, we thank you for being here today on this historic occasion. Into the first lady of the United States of america, and to the first lady of the United States of america [cheers] mrs. Michelle obama, the first lady of selma alabama wishes you, each of you, warm welcome and cheer. Thank you for being here, mr. President , former president george bush and his wife. We appreciate your coming to selma on this oc
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