Obama heads to Selma for 50th anniversary of historic march

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to attend Selma commemoration. Image by Steve Jurvetson / CC BY 2.0

President Obama will be joining thousands of others in Selma, Alabama, this weekend to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights marches, and the event that has become known as the ‘Bloody Sunday’ of 7 March, 1965, when protesters were attacked by state troopers with clubs and tear gas. The events eventually led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, meaning African Americans received the same voting rights as whites in the United States. ‘The world will turn its eyes to Selma again,’ the president said of the commemoration. First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha will also be in attendance. Read more: usatoday.com