Parents stuck on I-40 during protest call paramedics to help young son

[mahatmakanejeeves]

61. The Pettus Bridge reference

This reference is to a march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in March 1965.

The problem is that there were three marches across the Pettus Bridge that month. The photographs at Google Images are either not dated or, in many cases, incorrectly dated.

If I am not mistaken, on the first march, on Sunday, March 7, 1965, the marchers kept to the sidewalk. They made it across the bridge to the other side, where they were attacked.

Here is a photograph taken, I believe, on March 7, 1965. The marchers are all on one sidewalk.



It appears in this thread: "At age 19 he had helped organize the first lunch counter sit-in"

The article in which it appears says it was taken on Tuesday, March 9, but I think that label is incorrect.

John Lewis on Pettus Bridge, 45 Years Ago Today

The 7th was overcast, and everyone was wearing an overcoat. March 9 was warmer. The sun was out (you can see distinct shadows), and troopers were wearing short sleeves.

Two days later, on "Turnaround Tuesday," they marched again. This time the marchers turned around and went back across the bridge.

This is from March 9:



Finally, on March 21, the marchers made it across the bridge and kept going to Montgomery.

Here is a photograph taken on March 21, 1965:



In this March 21, 1965, photo, civil rights marchers cross the Alabama River on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., toward the state capital of Montgomery.

AP

This is from March 21:



That march is going on because of a court order.

So when you talk about the Pettus Bridge, you have to specify which of three events you are talking about.