Somebody already got us over that bridge. Amy tens of thousands of people marched on sunday in the largest rally ever, commemorating 50 years ago, when hundreds of people led by, among them, a young john lewis, 25 years old now a congressman and one of the leaders of the student nonviolence coordinating committee, marched in nonviolence over the bridge. This city gave birth to the movement that changed this nation forever. Our country will never, ever be the same because of what happened on this bridge. Amy all that and more coming up. Amy welcome to democracy now, democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman. We are broadcasting from alabama. Tens of thousands of people traveled to selma alabama, this week and the 50th anniversary of bloody sunday. On march 7 1965, hundreds of peaceful Voting Rights activists were attacked by police crossing the Edmund Pettus bridge as they attempt to march to montgomery. 50 years later, president obama attorney general eric holder, com
President obama and congressman john lewis who took part in the march in 1965. Visi ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the presid ladies and gentlemen pleaselle welcome the president of the United States and mrs. Michelle obama, accompanied by president bush and mrs. Laura bush and congressman john lewis. Good afternoon again. Is time i have the distinct pleasure at this time to introduce to you and bring to the podium the Alabama State governor Governor Robert Bentley. President obama mrs. Obama president bush, mrs. Bush congressman lewis, congressman e on sewell mayor evans. Its an honor for me to be on ple to this stage with you today and to become 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 in itself to the ridge struggle for civil rights over the past 50 years. Stre this bridge represents the strength of the determination, c the loss and the pain that ha
We are tired of being beaten by policemen. Were tired of seeing our people locked up in jail over and over again and then how long can we be patient . We want our freedom and we want it now [ cheers and applause ] it is saturday, july 18th and the country is mourning the loss of civil rights champion congressman john lewis. He died last night in atlanta at the age of 80. The speech we just showed, leaders of the march on washington back in 1963 famously asked him to tone that speech down. He demonstrated a fire and a passion early non his career delivering that momentous address when he was just 23 years old. Lewis had always led the way in fighting injustice. He was one of the central figures who led protests across the edmond bridge in selma. It was dubbed bloody sunday after rampant violence broke out. He had been known for making necessary trouble. He brought that attitude to the United States congress in 1987 when he was elected to represent georgias fifth district. He was often c
The march on washington, its a great distant from marching across that bridge in selma in 1965 for the right to vote. In 2011 after more than lewis wasnt content to just making history. He was also dedicated to preserving it. Consider the smithsonians africanamerican history and culture. And he never stopped stirring up good trouble as he liked to call it. Boycotting the inaugurations of george w. Bush after the contested 2000 election. And vocally opposing donald trump in 2017, citing suspicions of Russian Election meddling. And a protest against President Trumps immigration policy, the congressman, by then an elder statesman rooiled up the crowd with words he lived by. We must never, ever give up. We must be brave, bold and courageous. President trump has ordered flags at the white house and other federal buildings to fly at half staff for the rest of the day in honor of the passing of congressman john lewis. But other than that, no other proclamation has come from the president. Its
Saw the best in us. And he never gave up. And never stopped speaking out because he saw the best in us. He believed in us even when we didnt believe in ourselves. And as a congressman, he didnt rest. As an old man he didnt set out any fights. Sat in all night long on the floor of the United States capital. I know his staff was stressed. But the testing of his faith produced perseverance. He knew that the march is not over, that the race is not yet won, we have not yet reached that blessed destination where we are judged by the content of our character. He knew from his own life that progress is fragile, that we have to be vigilant against the darker occurrence of this countrys history. Of our own history. But there are whirlpools of violence and hatred and despair. That can always rise again. Bull connor may be gone, but today we witness with our own eyes Police Officers kneeling on the necks of black americans. George wallace may be gone, but we can witness our federal government send